district leaders detailing the buyback value compared with the amount they still owe on devices. The district also receives insights on when the value might peak and when to expect new technology to hit the marketplace so they can make the best decision for the devices they bring on board for the 2022–2023 school year.
The value of devices can drop by as much as 15% between March and June as the marketplace becomes flooded with buybacks
Last-minute decisions tend to be made out of despera- tion when devices are failing, and the impact of poor planning has already reached the classroom. That’s why proactive and intentional technology planning is essential.
Buybacks Update Tech and Stretch Budgets
Officials in Oklahoma’s Norman Public Schools aim to have the longest runway possible when it comes to plan- ning technology purchases. Through its partnership with a technology solutions company, the district learned that a financial sweet spot exists for refreshing the technol- ogy fleet. Obviously, districts shouldn’t make such a big investment when they don’t need it, but they also don’t want to wait until education quality is compromised by faulty equipment.
One way to stay in the sweet spot is to constantly watch the technology market, to know what values look like over time, and to identify the seasons when buyback options are better.
As it happened in Norman, district officials didn’t realize they were nearing a sweet spot until they began working with an outside firm. By then, they were facing a looming deadline that had to be met to maximize their return on investment. However, the opportunity to make the most of their budget was alluring, so they made it happen. The financial upside to timing their buyback was lucrative.
If the district wants to take advantage of better return rates throughout the school year, something else to consider is timing. Most schools opt to trade in devices in June; students and staff aren’t using them, and administrators have a few months to get a new fleet up and running.
asbointl.org
However, doing what everyone else does also means accepting the same prices as everyone else, taking the risk that summer market fluctuations could drastically affect values. The value of devices can drop by as much as 15% between March and June as the marketplace becomes flooded with buybacks.
A district can take advantage of that increased pricing by exploring a midyear refresh. It may be better to swap out devices over winter or spring breaks. Depending on the size of the buyback, even a 10% increase could be significant.
Budgeting for and Purchasing New Tech
Using devices until they die is an old, inefficient way of maintaining technology. Technology isn’t a consumable; it’s an ongoing investment that has the potential for a decent return.
Keeping track of your device buyback value and com- paring it with the amount you still owe on the product will help you determine the ideal time to shop for new technology, giving your students and faculty the latest and greatest devices while also providing a sustainable practice for years to come.
Part of maintaining up-to-date technology in your schools is making sure that technology isn’t viewed as a one-time expense; forward-thinking administrators view it as an operational expense, not unlike water and lights. Build technology costs into your annual budget every year, not just during the year you intend to purchase. Likewise, look for a partner that will offer you pay- ment options spread out throughout the equipment’s anticipated cycle. Such an option keeps the money allocated in your ongoing budget but unavailable for another department’s use. It’s an option that keeps dis- tricts fiscally nimble in a way that they might not have been in the past. There’s little doubt that technology in schools is going to grow exponentially. With the advent of e-learning and remote snow days, it’s clear that using one-to-one devices will only gain momentum moving forward. Undoubtedly, the schools that successfully navigate ongoing tech investments will share a common thread: planning. It’s only through ongoing conversations, bud- geting, and assessment that schools can exceed their tech demand for years to come.
David Smith is chief technology officer for Tustin Unified School District in Tustin, California. Email:
ddsmith@tustin.k12.ca.us
Peter Liesenfeld is chief technology officer for Norman Public Schools in Norman, Oklahoma. Email:
peterl@norman.k12.ok.us
Mark Rand is director of procurement for Diamond Assets, headquartered in Milton, Wisconsin. Email: mark.rand@
diamondassets.com
SCHOOL BUSINESS AFFAIRS | MAY 2022 13
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