Beecher 200U Approves $93,200 Chromebook Purchase from Technology Plus

Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Meeting | May 13, 2026

Article Summary: The Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Board of Education on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, unanimously approved a $93,200 purchase of new Chromebooks from Technology Plus, with the superintendent indicating that the senior buyback program offered in previous years will not be available this cycle.

Chromebook Purchase Key Points:

• $93,200 awarded to Technology Plus for new Chromebooks for the 2026-2027 school year.
• No senior Chromebook buyback program will be offered this year.
• District is still searching for additional units to meet projected need.
• Question raised about whether older devices could be cycled an additional year if supply runs short.

BEECHER — The Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Board of Education on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, unanimously approved the purchase of new Chromebooks from Technology Plus at a total cost of $93,200, refreshing the district’s student device inventory for the upcoming school year.

The motion to approve the purchase passed without dissent in a roll call vote. The board’s discussion of the item was brief, focused largely on the supply situation rather than the price.

Superintendent Dr. Jack Gaham told the board ahead of the vote that the district has had trouble finding all the units it needs through the current order. Asked whether the district could extend the life of existing devices for another year to bridge any gap, Gaham said extending the cycle is not the current plan but could be considered later in the summer.

The superintendent noted that unlike the previous school year, graduating seniors will not be offered the option to purchase their Chromebooks at the end of the year. “If you remember last year you allowed seniors the the the ability to buy back. We’re not going to have that this time,” Gaham said. He added that the district could revisit reaching out to families in July or August about supplemental device options if shortfalls remain at that point.

Board members did not press for additional detail at the meeting and accepted the staff recommendation.

Context

The Beecher district relies on Chromebooks as a core student device. Earlier in the meeting, Beecher Junior High Principal Dr. Michelle Kwasny’s board report noted that the building had operated a one-to-one device environment throughout the year, and the high school’s report referenced ongoing use of devices for AP testing logistics, scheduling and end-of-year coursework.

The new Chromebook order is one of several technology and capital purchases tied to the district’s preparation for the 2026-2027 academic year. Other items on the May agenda included floor restoration work at Beecher Junior High School, a planned gym floor refinish at Beecher High School and a multi-year facility use agreement with Peace Lutheran Church.