UCPS board approves Lenovo Chromebooks amid tariff discussions and budget revisions

The Union County Public School Board of Education meeting on May 6, 2025, focused on critical budget discussions and the approval of a vendor for Chromebook laptops. The board decided to pull the Chromebook laptop request for proposal (RFP) from the consent agenda to address concerns regarding potential tariffs on the units. The anticipated tariff could range from 5% to 10%, adding approximately $382,000 to the budget. Despite this increase, the recommended vendor, Lenovo, remains significantly cheaper than competitors, with a cost difference of about $1.5 to $2 million compared to HP.

The board unanimously approved Lenovo as the vendor for Chromebooks for grades 3 through 5, emphasizing the importance of this decision before moving on to the budget presentation.

During the budget discussion, the superintendent presented a revised budget recommendation, highlighting the need to sustain operations and invest in employees. The budget includes anticipated increases in utilities, insurance, and salaries, totaling approximately $3 million in mandated increases. The board also discussed the local teacher supplement, which was initially proposed to increase by $2,000 but has been adjusted to a $1,000 increase to balance the budget. This adjustment aims to keep the district competitive in teacher compensation rankings, which currently place it at 37th among 115 districts in North Carolina.

The superintendent noted that if the budget is fully funded, it would mark the first time in nine years that the district has increased teacher supplements in consecutive years, reflecting a commitment to supporting educators. The board will continue to advocate for necessary funding from the county to meet these budgetary needs.