Chicago Schools Approve $60 Million Tech Tracking Contract

UPDATE: Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is poised to approve a groundbreaking $60 million contract with technology giant CDW, aimed at transforming how the district tracks its technology devices. The school board is set to vote on this critical agreement later this month, in response to alarming reports revealing significant losses of school-issued devices.

This contract is crucial as CPS has faced challenges managing over 636,000 tablets, laptops, and other technologies since a pandemic-era spending spree. An investigation by the district’s inspector general found that 77,000 devices were marked as lost or stolen in just two years, raising urgent concerns about accountability and technology management.

The proposed contract will implement a state-of-the-art tracking system using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, enabling real-time monitoring of devices. This system is expected to reduce the number of lost items and improve accountability among school staff, who previously struggled with tracking devices manually.

Paul Valente, CPS’ facilities automation architect, underscored the benefits of the new technology, stating, “I would have really loved to have had this service because it would have automatically counted the devices for me.” His sentiment reflects a growing need for efficient solutions in the district, where technology coordinators have decreased in number since 2020.

Despite the $15 million annual cost, school board members did not voice concerns over the expenditure, even as CPS grapples with ongoing financial hurdles. Ed Bannon, a board member, raised questions about why a lower bid was overlooked, but district officials confirmed that CDW’s proposal was the most competitive.

The district’s prior tracking methods have been criticized, with experts warning that technology alone cannot solve the problem. Bart Epstein, an education technology expert, noted, “An RFID system automates the counting of devices, but it does not eliminate the humans.” This emphasizes the need for comprehensive training and accountability measures within the district.

CPS has been actively pursuing initiatives to enhance device tracking, which has already led to a reduction in annual technology losses from 11% to 7% following policy changes implemented in January. The new CDW contract, according to district officials, will be a “key component” in further improving these metrics.

As the school board prepares for its vote, the urgency of the situation cannot be understated. With the potential to reshape the management of technology resources in Chicago public schools, all eyes are on this pivotal decision.

Readers are encouraged to stay informed and share this developing story as CPS moves closer to finalizing a contract that could significantly impact the future of technology management in the district.