Chicago Public Schools Considering 60 Million Contract To Track Technology

Chicago Public Schools intends to approve a $60 million contract with CDW to enhance tracking of its technology devices over the next four years. This decision comes after investigations revealed significant losses of devices following a $308 million technology spending spree during the pandemic. Reports indicated that the district marked 77,000 devices as lost or stolen between 2021 and 2022. Since adopting electronic tracking methods, the district has noted a decrease in device loss, currently at 7%. The new tracking system will employ RFID tags for automatic inventory management, which CPS officials believe will improve accountability.

Experts caution that the success of this investment relies on effective implementation and staff training. The contract aims to address previous shortcomings and ensure devices are monitored efficiently. CPS is committed to reducing losses and enhancing the management of over 636,000 devices in its inventory.