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Berwyn South SD 100 approves staff device refresh covering 482 faculty MacBook Airs and 62 Mac Minis
Summary
The board approved a district technology refresh that will replace faculty M1 MacBook Airs with M5 MacBook Airs and upgrade staff to Mac Minis and monitors; the purchase (482 laptops, 62 desktops) was presented as a lease-aligned planned refresh with an estimated total not to exceed $647,160.
The Berwyn South SD 100 Board of Education approved a planned staff device refresh that will replace faculty M1 MacBook Air laptops with M5 MacBook Air models and outfit staff workstations with Mac Minis and high-definition monitors.
R.J., the district technology presenter, told the board the upgrade would improve performance, battery life and security and better support emerging instructional tools including AI-enabled software. "This refresh will enhance student engagement and outcomes, support innovative instructional practices, and strengthen our district-wide technology environment," the presenter said during the board meeting.
The district asked the board to approve purchasing 482 MacBook Air M5 devices for faculty and 62 Mac Mini systems with accessories, three years of AppleCare Plus coverage, and Apple professional learning services. The presenter said the total cost would not exceed $647,160 and that existing devices would be collected and resold through a certified vendor to recoup value.
Board members asked technical and procurement questions during the presentation, including whether Mac Minis would be purchased with monitors (the presenter confirmed monitors will be purchased as part of the plan), specifics on RAM for the new laptops (the presenter deferred and said exact RAM specs would be provided later), and whether phased refresh options exist as an alternative to the district's four-year lease cycle. The presenter said the district has historically followed a four-year rotating cycle that aligns with its master service agreement with Apple, though other lease options are available.
During Q&A the presenter estimated resale values for traded-in devices vary by condition; vendors grade devices (A/B/C) and grade‑A units were cited as fetching about $150–$250 when sold back. Board members also discussed professional learning and Apple-led training opportunities; the district said it offers Apple teacher certification opportunities and that vendor-led training has been part of prior refresh cycles.
The device refresh request was part of the consent agenda approved by roll-call vote during the meeting; board members later noted that item 12E (technology) was included in that consent package. The district plans to deploy new devices to staff in time for the 2026–27 school year subject to vendor timelines and lease procurement processes.
