The Natalia ISD Board of Trustees approved an interlocal acquisition agreement with the Region 4 Education Service Center in order to purchase technology through the state’s Operation Connectivity program in an amount not to exceed $50,000.
Approval was given during a special meeting held on Monday, August 3.
Operation Connectivity is a joint project between the state and the Texas Education Agency to utilize approximately $200 million in federal CARES Act funds to increase Internet access for students across Texas.
Superintendent Dr. Lana Collavo said that the interlocal agreement with Region 4 Education Service Center was necessary to place an order.
“We have choices of devices and hotspots,” Collavo said. “We have quite a few hotspots, so we are looking at using this portion of it for devices.”
Collavo recommended purchasing another 300 Chromebooks.
“This is a match program based on free and reduced lunch, the economically disadvantaged population, so we should get pretty much a fifty percent match for what we’re purchasing,” Collavo said.
Collavo said that while the district doesn’t have an exact price for the Chromebooks, it will be less than $50,000.
A motion by Board members Mireya Vanderslice and Paul Almendarez to join the interlocal agreement passed unanimously, as did a motion by Board member Andrew Besa and Vice President Tiffany Rodriguez to purchase technology for a cost not to exceed $50,000.
President Eric Smith, Secretary Gordon Gentry, and member Fernando Garza were also at the meeting.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer