St Clair County Schools board approves staffing, Chromebook and tech-app reductions for 2026–27

The St Clair County Schools board on May 31 approved a package of staffing and technology changes for the 2026–27 school year intended to align personnel and devices with enrollment and budget realities.

Administration presented a bundled motion that the board approved by voice vote to: adjust the paraprofessional work day to 7:45 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; reduce elementary teaching staff by three positions; reduce districtwide paraprofessional staffing by five positions; decrease the number of Chromebooks issued at elementary grades (including a decision that sixth graders will not take devices home); reduce the number of district-supported technology applications; and eliminate five teacher overload segments.

Miss Holland, who described the classroom device plan, said sixth graders “will not be taking them home” while still having access during the school day. She told trustees that younger grades will move from one-to-one home devices toward classroom sets "so that if they need them, they'll have access," and that upper grades would have roughly two-thirds device access rather than one-to-one. “Teachers will likely keep a few of them in their classrooms so students will always have access,” she said.

Administrators cited both enrollment trends and research concerns about student screen time in explaining the changes. Board members and administration also described a concurrent effort to inventory and reduce overlapping instructional apps to lower annual licensing and IT support costs. IT lead Mike Godford was asked to identify districtwide applications for consolidation.

The board separately approved a three-year technology lease with American Capital for $21,838.70 covering 75 licenses; administration said leasing was financially preferable to purchasing given current market tariffs and replacement timelines.

Trustees framed the package as a fiscal- and instruction-driven right-sizing rather than a targeted personnel action: the district will keep some devices available in classrooms for testing and instruction and will use co-op support for staff training where needed. The motion to approve the adjustments and the lease carried by voice vote.

Board members said they will continue monitoring impacts on classroom instruction and student access and will review specifics at upcoming work sessions.