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District to buy iPad audio adapters and consider software renewals; board presses Apple for discount
Summary
Administration proposed buying roughly 4,500 iPad 3.5mm audio adapters to pair new iPads with existing headsets; board members asked administration to seek deeper discounts from Apple. Staff also flagged upcoming renewals for Xello (career-readiness) and Destiny (library catalog).
The district asked the board to approve a purchase of iPad audio adapters to allow existing headsets to connect to newly purchased iPads and outlined several enterprise renewals for the board’s Sept. 30 approval agenda.
Miss Arntz (EdTech) explained that the district’s new iPads lack a 3.5 mm audio jack and that adapters are required to reuse existing headsets in classrooms. Administration planned to procure bulk Apple adapters to ensure compatibility and timely delivery; the initial quote listed roughly 4,500 adapters. Board members raised concerns about unit cost and requested administration press Apple for a larger discount or explore certified third‑party alternatives. "These are brand-new devices and they don't work with the tech that we have," one board member said. Administration said it had tested non‑Apple adapters and found compatibility issues and that the Apple quote reflected bulk availability and guaranteed fit.
Separately, IT staff flagged several recurring enterprise items that will appear on the upcoming consent/approval agenda: a Destiny library-management renewal (existing library catalog system), and a Xello renewal used to capture the state-mandated career-readiness artifacts (grades 5, 8 and 11). Administration noted Xello is the district’s current solution for the state-required career-readiness portfolio but said staff will evaluate alternatives and provide a cost comparison (including PowerSchool/Naviance options) before committing long term.
What’s next: administration will seek further pricing negotiations for adapters, provide comparative quotes for third-party solutions (if compatible), and include the iPad-adapter purchase and software renewals on the Sept. 30 approval agenda; staff will also return with a vendor/comparison memo about Xello and career‑portfolio options.
