Chromebook Repairs Eating the Budget — What’s Everyone Else Doing?

[AlphamaleZed]

Hi everyone,

 

With budgets constantly being cut, we’re really struggling with Chromebook repairs, and the costs are getting out of hand (spent 5k last year! repairs only)

 

I’m planning to go to SLT with a breakdown of what we spent last year and what we’re projected to spend this year. Chromebook repairs feel like a never-ending cycle — what are you all doing to manage this?

 

We’ve got around 500 Chromebooks in trolleys across the school and 1,500 students.

 

Are you switching to a 1:1 model or still providing shared Chromebooks? If you can share any pros and cons, it’ll help me build my case.

 

Thanks in advance!

[TheHyperTechie]

We had struggled with this over the last couple of years: 1:1 in KS2, and we were experiencing multiple breakages every week. I decided that enough was enough and sat down with our SLT. We revised a plan, which included having the student and parent sign an AUP for the device, covering breakages and loss. At the bottom, I included a chart listing the type of damage along with the cost to replace it. If the parent chooses not to sign, the student will only be able to use a Chromebook at school (not at home).

 

Cracked screen = £30
Water damage = New device cost
etc.

 

So far, we have had only three breakages (cracked screens). Two of these have been repaired and paid for by the parent, and the other was an accident. This is a huge improvement compared to the ~10+ breakages we had just in September alone last year.

 

The obvious downside is determining whether a breakage was accidental or not. Luckily, SLT work closely with us on this, so they are usually very good at finding out. Most of the time, parents are also forthcoming, as they want their child to continue using the Chromebook to enhance their education.

 

 

[psydii]

The job's a never ending cycle. We control the laptop trolleys, their delivery and collection. So we know exactly which teacher was supervising when damage occours.

 

Departments where damage occours a lot get rewarded with their own dedicated trolley  ....and budgetary responsibility for repairs. We run the logistics for said repairs to ensure quality is maintained.

 

Report upwards. Its not really an IT cost, its a strategic cost and needs to be managed at that level.