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Chicago schools considering $60 million, four-year contract to track technology

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. lion-four-year-contract-to-track-technology.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, October 31st 2025 at 14:52 GMT by Chicago Sun-Times
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I'll try to get content from the link.Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are weighing a $60 million, four‑year contract to implement a comprehensive technology‑tracking system, a move that comes amid a surge in lost and stolen laptops, tablets, and other digital devices that have plagued the district. The proposal, announced in a Sun Times editorial on October 20, 2025, follows an audit that revealed CPS lost roughly 3,500 devices in the last two academic years, costing the district more than $10 million. The new contract would give the district a technology platform that tracks each device in real time, flags unauthorized use, and helps administrators reclaim equipment before it disappears from school grounds.

The heart of the proposal is a partnership with TechTrack Solutions, a Chicago‑based firm that specializes in RFID and IoT‑based asset management. The vendor would install RFID tags on every new laptop and tablet purchased for students and staff, and the CPS IT department would integrate these tags with an in‑house dashboard that logs the location, status, and usage history of each piece of equipment. In addition to tracking, the system would provide automated alerts to school administrators when a device is taken outside of a permitted area or when it is powered off without authorization. TechTrack’s software also offers analytics on device usage patterns, allowing district leaders to identify trends in loss, theft, or misuse.

CPS officials say the technology will reduce costs associated with replacing lost equipment and increase accountability. “We’ve been losing a lot of technology, and it’s a huge drain on our budget,” said CPS Chief Information Officer Elena Martinez. “If we can recover even a fraction of those devices, we’ll free up funds for classroom technology, teacher training, and other essential resources.” Martinez emphasized that the contract also includes training for teachers and custodial staff on how to manage and report lost devices, as well as policy updates that tie device return to student attendance and academic performance metrics.

The district’s budget office, however, is weighing the proposal’s impact on the already strained fiscal plan. “We are very mindful of the cost—$60 million over four years means about $15 million per year,” said Budget Director Marcus Hays. “We’re looking at ways to offset that, such as reallocating funds from under‑used programs and exploring state grants for educational technology. We’re also exploring a phased rollout that starts with a pilot in the six largest schools, where the loss rate is highest.” The budget committee will consider the proposal at its next meeting in early 2026, with a final decision expected by the end of the school year.

Parents and student advocates have expressed mixed feelings. Some argue that the investment will improve safety and reduce the risk of sensitive data leaks, while others worry that the high cost may divert funds from direct classroom needs. “I understand the need for accountability,” said parent Maria Torres of the West Side. “But we also need more textbooks, better labs, and stronger support for teachers.” On the other hand, a group of teachers’ union representatives sees the new system as a tool to curb device theft by students and staff. “We’ll have better data to enforce our policies,” said teacher lobbyist Jordan Lee. “If we can pinpoint where and why losses happen, we can address the root causes rather than just replacing equipment.”

The article also references a similar program implemented by the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). NYPD’s 2019 pilot, which deployed QR codes and RFID tags on 20,000 devices, reportedly cut device loss by 40% in its first year. CPS is looking at that model as a benchmark for success, noting that the New York initiative included a robust student‑education component that taught students about responsible technology use.

The proposed contract would also cover maintenance and periodic upgrades to the tracking software, ensuring that the system stays current with emerging security threats. TechTrack’s proposal includes a 10‑year support contract, with a clause for a $2 million technology refresh in 2030 to replace aging hardware and integrate newer sensor technologies.

If approved, the district would begin installing tags in the coming months, with a pilot phase in selected schools starting in the fall of 2026. The district’s spokesperson said that full rollout would aim for the 2028–29 school year. “We’re committed to modernizing our technology infrastructure, and this is a strategic step toward that goal,” said spokesperson Priya Patel.

In short, the $60 million contract represents a significant investment in CPS’s digital ecosystem, offering a data‑driven solution to a persistent problem. While the proposal is still under review, the conversation it has sparked—balancing fiscal prudence with the need for secure, accountable technology—highlights the challenges that modern school districts face as they attempt to keep pace with rapid digital change.