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Richland 1 to pilot iPads for early grades; contracts report raises procurement questions
Summary
District staff said the initial purchase will outfit teachers and prepare for student iPads in pre-K–2; the contracts report (December purchase orders) and HVAC replacement costs prompted requests for scopes of work and capital details.
District staff told the Richland 1 board on Jan. 27 that the district will pilot iPads for pre-kindergarten through second grade, beginning with teacher devices and professional development, and that student devices will be ordered later.
Mr. Grant and Miss Grant explained the approach: teachers will receive iPads and cases with keyboards so devices are age-appropriate; the district will use a mobile device management platform and ClassLink portal so students access applications via the web as they do now. Staff said Apple provides much of the repair support and on-site replacement devices are available so teachers are not left without equipment. The district’s standard operating procedure anticipates that elementary student devices will remain at school, with few exceptions for students taking high-school-level coursework.
During the contracts information item, Ms. Hodges presented December purchase orders (7 items) for amounts in the $50,249–$999,999 range (as reported in the board packet). Commissioners requested scopes of work for specific vendors and asked that electronic plan files be made uniform and easier to read. Commissioner Bishop requested a scope of work for vendors such as curriculum associates and special services; staff agreed to provide that information.
Commissioners also asked about HVAC entries in the contracts; staff said full replacements have been done at some schools (Forest Heights cited at about $4,000,000) while other locations have piecemeal repairs, and staff agreed to provide an inventory of replacements and capital needs at a Feb. 17 capital presentation.
What’s next: district staff said electronic documents and scopes of work will be supplied on request, student iPad orders will follow teacher devices, and capital/HVAC details will be included in February reports.
