As part of its regular device replacement cycle, Community Consolidated School District 21 has approved a $938,640 purchase of 2,400 Lenovo Chromebook 500e Gen 5 devices from CDW.
The district provides a Chromebook to every student in kindergarten through eighth grade through its 1:1 program. Combined with its suite of online tools and digital services, the initiative ensures that all students develop the technology skills and collaborative experience needed to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world.
To maintain that standard, the district follows a consistent three-year refresh cycle. Incoming kindergarten, third- and sixth-grade students receive a new Chromebook at the start of each school year. Through this cadence, approximately one-third of the district’s device fleet is replaced annually, ensuring students and staff always have access to reliable, high-performing and secure technology capable of supporting daily instruction.
This year, the purchase timeline was accelerated due to ongoing supply chain challenges. Increased demand from artificial intelligence companies for computer memory, storage and processing chips has affected product availability and pricing.
“This year’s market conditions required us to act sooner to lock in pricing and ensure timely delivery,” said Tyler Loch, director of technology services. “After thoroughly testing multiple models, we’re confident these devices offer the right balance of performance, durability and efficiency to support our students’ learning while also being responsible stewards of district resources.”
According to Loch, the new Lenovo devices provide improved performance over previous models while using less energy. He added that the investment reflects the district’s continued commitment to equipping students and staff with reliable, up-to-date tools.
“Maintaining a consistent refresh cycle ensures our devices remain compatible with evolving educational technology,” Loch said. “That allows us to uphold a high standard of digital access across the district.”
The decision followed a review of proposals from multiple vendors, with district officials citing price, durability, functionality, security and performance benchmarks as key selection factors.
The devices will be configured over the summer and distributed to students in August.
CCSD21
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