Many Quaker Valley students and staff to get new Apple devices next school year

Quaker Valley School District officials approved the purchase new MacBook Air laptops for staffers and ninth generation iPads for students as part of an ongoing technology refresh program.

Karyn Dobda, director of innovation and strategic initiatives, said 100 MacBook Air laptops will be given to staff at Edgeworth and Osborne elementary schools as well as some workers in the district office.

Purchase price was $120,800 though the Pennsylvania Educational Purchasing Program for Microcomputers.

PEPPM is a nationwide cooperative contract created to assist government agencies and educational organizations in getting the best price on such items .

The school board also voted March 21 to authorize the purchase of 420 iPads for students in first, fifth and ninth grades.

That cost was listed at just over $221,000 also through PEPPM.

Dobda said first graders keep their iPads through fourth grade, fifth graders use theirs through eight grade, and ninth graders keep them through their senior year.

“We developed a five-year technology plan that takes a look at the resources that we have and what we need to stay current and keep our teachers and our students up to date,” Dobda said. “This (is for) Year Two of that plan. Last year, we refreshed laptops for the middle school and high school staff.”

The district paid the same price for about the same number of staff laptops last year.

It also purchased iPads for first and ninth graders last year.

Laptops come with three years of AppleCare+ for Schools, which is an extended warranty and service coverage.

The iPads come with Logitech Rugged three-combo keyboard and trackpad case, plus four years of AppleCare+ for Schools.

School board President Jon Kuzma commended Dobda’s price negotiating skills.

“The technology purchases were necessary to replace aging technology,” Kuzma said. “Ensuring that our students and staff have the most up-to-date technology is key in helping the district maintain its innovative edge. Mrs. Dobda secured competitive pricing for this routine refresh, with the unit cost for these laptops the same as the quote obtained last year. At this time, many staff laptops are 6 years old and may no longer be operating at full capacity.”

Dobda said enrollment plays a roll in planning future technology purchases.

“Technology is part of our world,” Dobda said. “Teaching students how to use the devices responsibly and ethically, and to be good digital citizens and use the technology wisely is a very important part of the educational process.”

It is unclear when the new devices would be received by the district.

The first day of the next school year is scheduled for Aug. 23.