The board dedicated attention to the student device refresh project, aiming to replace all student devices, including Chromebooks and CTE laptops, across K-12 schools. The project’s initial phase saw substantial progress, with the replacement of Chromebooks for high school and alternative school students and the provision of necessary classroom laptops for courses requiring Windows software. Despite some supply chain challenges with protective covers, the majority of schools received their devices on time. The project involved coordination with five vendors and successfully triaged nearly 55,000 devices, sorting them into categories for continued use, repair, or e-waste. The initiative is set to expand, with a request for quotes initiated for deploying Chromebooks to elementary schools, simplifying procurement by focusing solely on Chromebooks.

Complementing the refresh project was the IT summer internship program, which ran from June 22 to August 7. This program offered 32 interns, primarily from Palm Beach high schools, practical experience in various IT domains, including security, technical operations, and project management. Interns engaged in activities such as networking scanning, device diagnostics, and server configuration. They also participated in the setup of computer labs and contributed to the implementation of Starlink at a specific facility. The program concluded with positive feedback from participants, some of whom transitioned into temporary positions within the district.

He highlighted the existence of 38 dual language programs in Spanish, aimed at fostering bilingual proficiency among students. The board encouraged community participation in celebrations from September 15 to October 15 and outlined plans for a College and Career Fair on September 30, featuring representatives from 100 colleges and universities, as well as military and career programs.

In addition to the tech-focused initiatives, the board addressed several other topics. The SIS parent portal update was presented by Michelle Morris, highlighting a strategic initiative to centralize family access to district systems and student data. As of early October, over 90,000 accounts were registered, with plans to enhance the portal with single sign-on capabilities to increase family engagement.

The board also recognized several contributions to the district. The National JROTC Leadership Foundation donated $10,000 to Atlantic Community High School’s JROTC program. Jeannette Bogart’s $50,000 donation to the Wellness Promotion Task Force aimed to support wellness initiatives for students and staff. The board expressed gratitude for these contributions, emphasizing their positive impact on the district’s programs and initiatives.

Board members took time to engage with the community, discussing topics such as the teaching of African history in schools, the importance of attendance awareness, and the district’s efforts to support homeless families. They also reflected on enhancing educational opportunities through partnerships with local municipalities and acknowledged the diverse approaches municipalities take in supporting local education.

The meeting concluded with the board addressing administrative recommendations, including the approval of a partnership grant from the Mayor of West Palm Beach benefiting eleven elementary schools. Members emphasized the importance of municipal contributions in supporting schools and discussed strategies to enhance collaboration with local governments.