Penn‑Trafford approves 1,300‑iPad lease, $5 million line of credit and several capital repairs

The Penn‑Trafford School District board on March 2 approved a package of budget and capital motions that included a lease for student iPads, a precautionary line of credit and several facility repairs.

The board voted to lease 1,300 iPads through Apple Financial Services for a total contract value recorded in the motion as $666,835 over four years — $166,708.75 per year. The motion, introduced during the budget and finance portion of the consent agenda, passed on a roll‑call vote. District staff described the purchase as part of a phased transition from Chromebooks to iPads (grades 9–12 completed this year, grades 5–8 next year, K–4 following year) and said each iPad will be supplied with a case, keyboard and AppleCare coverage. A district official also said the lease replaces ongoing Chromebook repair costs and will run on a four‑year replacement cycle.

Board members and staff discussed budget impacts. A staff speaker noted the district expects to add roughly $50,000 to the related budget item in the coming year while the full replacement cycle ramps up and estimated…