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Board approves small Apple device pilot after questions on screen time and accessibility
Summary
The board approved an instructional‑technology purchase (item F) that includes a small iPad/iMac pilot at Eisenhower and East's art lab; administration said the purchase is a limited pilot to study effectiveness, accessibility and resale/value considerations.
The Wauwatosa School District board approved a request Jan. 26 to move forward with a limited instructional‑technology purchase that includes an iMac upgrade for the East High art lab and a small pilot to test 1:1 iPad use at Eisenhower Elementary.
Chief Academic Officer Nicole Marble told the board the items were part of planned instructional technology purchases that were delayed and are now ready for reallocation; Instructional Technology Coordinator Beth Kimmel described goals including a consistent instructional environment, ease of device management and Apple accessibility features that some teachers have requested. “We have started to explore the use of Apple products...because of the residual value,” Kimmel said.
Board members probed possible effects on screen time for youngest learners and on keyboarding skills. One board member said she was uncomfortable expanding a 1:1 iPad environment for very young students and moved to split or separate the iPad line from the rest of the consent items; after clarifications that the proposal is a small pilot with study measures and that external keyboards and accessibility options are being considered, the board voted to approve item F, with one member excused.
Administrators emphasized the pilot’s limited scope, plans to measure instructional impact, and that any broader rollout would return to the board for approval.
What’s next: Administration will run the pilot at Eisenhower and gather data to support any future expansion decisions.
