Central Consolidated Schools board approves purchase of MacBooks, iPads and deployment services

CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS — The Central Consolidated Schools Board of Education voted Oct. 6 to approve a district purchase of Apple devices, related warranties and off‑site deployment services for classroom use beginning in January.

Amy Conley, the district’s presenter for the purchase, told the board the proposal covers 2,145 13‑inch MacBook Airs at $879 each, four‑year AppleCare for those units at $239 each, STM protective shells (sold in five‑packs) at $224.75 per pack, and deploy services at $20 per MacBook. The plan also includes 2,960 iPad devices (296 ten‑packs priced at $5,129.50 per ten‑pack) with AppleCare included and deploy services at $18 per iPad, plus 2,960 Logitech Zone Learn over‑ear headsets at $34.95 each.

"This will allow our district to upgrade existing technology from over five years ago," Conley said, explaining the purchase exceeded the district threshold that requires board approval.

Michael (Mike) Thomas, the district technology coordinator, described the white‑glove deployment the vendor will provide: asset‑tagging up to two tags per device, case installation, and a detailed spreadsheet and report of where each device is going to speed the district’s configuration process. "We do get that," Thomas said of the asset report, adding that district staff will still complete per‑student configuration in the district’s Jamf mobile device manager.

Thomas told the board the expected useful life for the new MacBook model is "about 4 years," and said AppleCare would cover up to two repairs per device under the warranty terms described by staff.

Board members raised questions about student responsibility and home‑use risks. Vice President Wells and Board member Aspis asked how parents are notified of liability and whether the district shares risk when devices go home. Conley said the technology‑use agreement is included in the PowerSchool registration forms that parents sign each year and that schools handle many damage cases at the building level.

Aspis pressed for clearer warnings about lithium battery hazards and the district’s legal exposure if a device overheats at home. Conley acknowledged the district policy and user agreement do not currently mention battery overheating and agreed to "look into" adding a separate caution sheet or clarifying language. Aspis offered to help draft the language.

Conley summarized payment and delivery terms in the statement of work: 30‑day payment terms with the district providing full payment in one installment, single‑site delivery to the district warehouse, and a deployment goal timed for winter break so devices would be ready for student use in January. She also noted exclusions in the vendor scope — on‑site configuration and device activation will be performed by district technology staff.

After discussion, a board member moved to adopt the purchase and services as presented; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously to approve the agreement. The board then moved and voted to adjourn at 3:35 p.m.

The board directed staff to pursue adding clearer battery and home‑use cautions to the parent‑student technology agreement; no formal vote or amendment to the agreement language was recorded at the meeting.