All Unified School District 232’s middle and high schoolers, as well as all secondary teachers, are getting new laptops.
The school board recently approved $5.6 million to purchase 5,300 MacBooks — along with AppleCare+ protection for each device and protective cases — which will be paid over the next four years.
New laptops will be in use next school year
- The school board unanimously approved the purchase for all new laptops for secondary students at its meeting Monday, Jan. 9.
- More information about how middle and high students will receive their new laptops will be available later this semester, according to the district.
- Elementary students are likely to get updated devices at a later time, since the district’s 1:1 initiative was not rolled out to younger grades until a year after it was started for older students.
USD 232 students have had 1:1 devices since 2019
- In 2019, USD 232 piloted a 1:1 device program, where every student got their own personal laptop, in middle and high schools.
- The pilot program included a plan to replace students’ devices with newer ones after four years, according to board documents.
Board considered extending ‘refresh’ period to five years
- District spokesperson Alvie Cater said while extending the time after which new devices are purchases is still possible, the four-year cycle “can help capture more residual value of existing devices.”
- The need for repairs typically increases the longer devices are in use, as well, he said.
Go deeper: Read up on USD 232’s decision to move forward with the 1:1 digital initiative.
