TYRONE — Artificial intelligence servers and data centers are causing “quite a bit” of pricing pressure for memory and hard drives, according to Tyrone Area School District technology director Glen Drager.

As a result, the school board of directors is looking to approve the immediate purchase of affected technology items, including Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, laptops and desktop computers for the 2026-27 school year during next Tuesday’s regular session meeting.

A total cost for the items wasn’t listed during Tuesday’s work session meeting because the district’s vendors implemented a 15% price increase

March 1, Drager said, noting the board will have the total cost by next week’s meeting.

“We knew this was coming in the background, but it really didn’t come into clarity until December through February what kind of an impact we were talking about,” Drager said, adding some vendors raised prices by 25% in December and then again by 15% to 25% in February.

The pricing instability now makes it difficult for the district to move forward with any kind of bidding process because vendors can’t guarantee pricing for more than a couple weeks, Drager said.

“They won’t guarantee pricing for more than that,” he said. “Their recommendation was to buy now and buy fast because there’s going to be even more price increases between now and July 1. It’s projected we’ll at least see one more round of price increases.”

Given the amount of equipment Tyrone Area needs to buy for next school year, Drager said another round of price increases would cost the district “tens of thousands of dollars every time one of these price increases comes into effect.”

He estimated the cost could rise about $70,000 or more between now and July 1.

“It’s not something we’re always going to push on. But this time around, I think the quicker we make these technology purchases, the better,” Drager said.

The board is also expected to receive a food service budget presentation from Amanda Owens, the district’s cafeteria director, and Taylor Danko, the food service director, during next week’s meeting.

After Tuesday’s work session meeting, the board entered into an executive session to discuss negotiations, board President Rose Black said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.