District spends over $50,000 on 50 computers… is this right?
At the last FMSD Board meeting on 3/24/2026: https://www.youtube.com/live/wtvJWjAGZtc?si=c-qpLAT4w21VAPDw
1. At the beginning of the Board meeting, during Item 3.04 Approve/Disapprove Order of the Agenda, I asked a very simple question:
“Why was this item 5.01 Resolution No. 2026 - 14 - Dolores Huerta Day Public attachment Dolores Huerta Day Resolution 2026-14.pdf Public attachment moved to the front of the Agenda?”
I commented: “Traditionally, in the three (3) years I’ve been on the School Board, we have had all acknowledgements and recognitions, worthy as they all are, placed at the end of the Board’s Agenda.”
“Is this Resolution more important than Resolution 9.03 “Black April Commemoration”, or Resolution 9.04 “In Support of Autism Awareness Month”, or Resolution 9.05 “In Support of Week of the Young Child”?
9.03 Resolution No. 2026 - 15 - 51st Black April Commemoration Public attachment Resolution No. 2026 - 15 - Black April Commemoration Public attachment
9.04 Resolution No. 2026 - 16 - In Support of Autism Awareness Month Resolution No. 2026 - 16 - In Support of Autism Awareness Month
9.05 Resolution No. 2026 - 17 - In Support of Week of the Young Child Resolution No. 2026 - 17 - In Support of Week of the Young Child
As you can see in the link provided of the Board meeting, Superintendent Cruz answered my question immediately and basically said, “He felt it was important enough to be at the beginning of the Agenda.” (He implied the other Resolutions were NOT important enough to be recognized until at the very end of our meeting, when most of the audience has gone home.)
I followed his comment with a question to Board President Hong Ha Hoang, “I believe it is the responsibility of the Board President and the Vice President to decide the Board Agenda in the week before our Board meeting with the Secretary of the Board, Superintendent Cruz present, but it is ultimately your decision to make the Agenda for each Board meeting.”
Board President Hong Ha Hoang answered, “It was our decision to put that Resolution first.”
Interesting! Again, are the other Resolutions remembering the fall of Saigon NOT that important especially to the Vietnamese, and the Support of our Autism special needs children NOT that important, and the Support of the Young Child NOT that important?
I asked the Board to be consistent in the posting of our Resolutions, and NOT to show perceived favoritism to any group, person, or event. ALL Resolutions an Acknowledgements are important!
2. At the last FMSD Board meeting on 3/24/2026 there was one (1) item I requested to question, and I requested to pull it for further discussion with the Board members and the Superintendent:
7.02 2025/2026 Ratification of MacBook Air Purchase for Teaching Staff Public attachment 2214262363 - 50 MBA.pdf Public attachment
My Comments and Questions:
In this CONSENT ITEM (Over $25,000), you are asking the Board to approve spending $56 039.06 for the purchase of 50 MacBook Air computers for faculty at Sylvandale and Hellyer schools. That’s over $1,000.00 for each device! How old are these computers we’re replacing? How often are the computers replaced?”
As a seasoned 22-year active teacher, I completely agree in spending our district monies to purchase support equipment and tools to help our teachers and support staff. However, we are to be fiscally responsible spending our district monies as well!
I voted NO on this expenditure! The other Board members voted YES. Look at my last Board Meeting post: we’ve spent almost ½ million dollars in two (2) years on computers and Chromebooks!
5.01 Resolution No. 2026 - 14 - Dolores Huerta Day
Dolores Huerta Day Resolution 2026-14.pdf
There was one (1) item I requested to question, and I requested to pull it for further discussion with the Board members and the Superintendent:
8.03: 2025/2026 Ratification of Chromebook Purchase for Students ITmgmt - 1500 CBs.pdf
CMAS Contract 3-24-09-1065 - IT Management.pdf
My Comments and Questions:
In this CONSENT ITEM (Over $25,000), you are asking the Board to approve spending $481,613.91 for the purchase of 1500 Chromebooks for our 5th and 6th grade students. As a seasoned 22-year active teacher, I completely agree in spending our district monies to purchase support equipment and tools to help our students receive the quality education they deserve, and we are obligated to provide them. However, we are to be fiscally responsible spending our district monies as well!
I did my research (see below). In addition to this $481,613.91 you are requesting to purchase 1500 Chromebooks, in 2023 and 2024 alone, we’ve spent $2,356,037.97 on 4200 Chromebooks, 1700 I Pads, 30 MacBook Airs, and 98 Carts.
I voted NO on this Consent Item! I believe we are spending an exuberant amount of FMSD monies for these electronic devices which are NOT contributing to the improvement of our children’s education. I realize there are more contributors (like parents, teachers, administrators, etc.…) to our children’s pursuit of education, but I cannot agree to spend this much money on these devices.
The other Board members made NO comments on this matter. Trustee Rudy Rodriguez (up for reelection this year), made the motion to approve this agenda item. All the other Board members, except me, voted to pass this item. How sad!
