MARSHFIELD, Wis (WSAU) — A special session of the Marshfield School Board is set for later Monday to vote on a plan to provide as many as 4,000 iPads over a three year period to students in the district for their personal academic use. The plan has been estimated to cost the district about $370,000 in the first year of what administrators have called the “iPad Initiative.”
Technology director Mike Drevlow told the district’s Finance Committee that, depending on which option is selected, the iPads could be leased on a three-year cycle at a cost of $404 each. According to Drevlow, “We’d be keeping these devices for three years, and on the fourth year you’re able to turn them in. We’d be able to get some really good pricing, and then the rest of the projections are all based off of current list price of the devices, the iPads, that we’re looking at.”
Business Services Director Pat Saucerman says cost savings this year due to mild winter weather could help pay next year’s big $370,000 price tag for the iPads. “We’re in a very favorable position right now if we’re interested in ‘ponying-up’ the money out of 2015-2016,” Saucerman said. “Everything is looking very favorable for us right now, and one way to offset the big hit that we would take for $370,000 next year would be to cover it for this year.”
The new technology would most likely also require a new position, a Technology Integration Specialist, according to Superintendent Dee Wells, especially since the district may be facing a rapid “roll-out” of the technology upgrade. “This is a position that would also understand the implementation of technology in the classroom,” Wells added. “Somebody that has knowledge to be able to work with classroom teachers to support them as they begin to integrate more and more technology in the classroom.”
School administrators say the digital devices would actually save money in certain area like the need for fewer textbooks, and on decreased costs for the replacement of other computers in the district. However, it’s expected that the devices would incur maintenance and storage costs. Other issues discussed by administrators include how to troubleshoot problems, and how to communicate with parents about the new digital devices.
The reason for tonight’s special meeting is that funding for the iPad initiative needs to be approved by March 22nd in order to receive special pricing on the devices that could save between $200,00 and $490,000 dollars off of list price depending on how many devices are purchased.
This technology update would come amidst discussions regarding a possible funding referendum for the Marshfield School district; an issue that would be put to an upcoming city-wide vote. That meeting is open to the public and scheduled to begin at 5:30 Monday night at the Marshfield School District offices, 1010 East Fourth Street.
by Terry Pezl, WSAU
