FMSD spends millions on electronic devices which do NOT help us improve our students' education!
Notes from the Board Meeting - 3/10/2026
Written By Marc Cooper for Franklin McKinley School Board 2026
At the last FMSD Board meeting on 3/10/2026 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:
8.03 2025/2026 Ratification of Chromebook Purchase for Students
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 IPads, 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!
Technology Purchases in 2023-2024
Item 7.02: 2023/2024 Approval of Purchase of 700 Chromebooks (Feb 13, 2024 - Board Meeting - 8:00 PM (In-person meeting only)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact is $256,401.25.
Item 7.03: 2023/2024 Approval to (30 MacBook Airs) Purchase Apple MacBook Airs for Santee School (Feb 13, 2024 - Board Meeting - 8:00 PM (In-person meeting only)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact is $38,149.69.
Item 7.04: Purchase of 700 iPads for TK - 2nd-Grade Students (Feb 13, 2024 - Board Meeting - 8:00 PM (In-person meeting only)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact is $255,767.97.
Item 7.01: Consent to Purchase 500 Chromebooks for Student Use (Meeting Feb 28, 2023 - Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. (In-person meeting only.)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact is $145,444.69.
Item 7.01: Franklin-McKinley School District is in the process of purchasing 1000 Chromebooks for FMSD Students. (Meeting Jan 10, 2023 - Board Meeting - 7:00 p.m. (In-person meeting only.)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact is $326,740.31.
Item 8.03: The purchase of 98 additional carts and 2,000 Chromebooks would significantly enhance the technology infrastructure at FMSD (Meeting Dec 12, 2023 - Board Meeting - 7:00 PM (In-person meeting only)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase of 98 carts would be $114,170 and the purchase of 2,000 Chromebooks would be $732,575, making a total of $846,745.
Item 8.04: The purchase of 1,000 iPads would significantly enhance the technology infrastructure at FMSD (Meeting Dec 12, 2023 - Board Meeting - 7:00 PM (In-person meeting only)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase of 1,000 iPads is $386,789.06 TOTAL: $2,256,037.97.
FMSD DATA: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
(2024-2025 CASSPP test scores)
31% of our FMSD students are at grade level in MATHEMATICS (almost 70% are failing).
34% are at grade level in ELA/READING AND WRITING (over 66% are failing).
These are some of the lowest scores EVER in FMSD history! This is NOT acceptable!
REMINDER OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
“The Franklin-McKinley School District will ensure all 8th grade student graduates have the skills and knowledge to be ready for a college preparatory curriculum in high school. They all will have the ability to pursue a program preparing them for university and/or careers and lifelong learning.”
