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District selects iPad with keyboard case for middle/high schools; teachers to receive MacBook Neo
Summary
Technology director Jason Patton told the board the district will adopt an iPad (with a Zag ToughKeys keyboard case) as the secondary device for middle and high schools and supply teachers with MacBook Neo laptops; teacher Neos may be distributed in June, teacher iPads in July and student iPads at the start of the next school year.
Jason Patton, presenting the district's technology update, said the district has decided to standardize on Apple devices and selected an iPad with a Zag ToughKeys case as the secondary device for middle and high school students and classrooms.
Patton said the choice reflects the iPad's camera, battery life and capabilities for augmented and virtual reality, natural interactions and accessibility features. "We have decided to go in the direction of an iPad with a Zag tough keys case," he said, adding the keyboarded case provides a laptop-like experience while preserving tablet capabilities.
On the teacher side, Patton said the district plans to issue MacBook Neos as teachers' primary work device and provide a second, mobility-focused iPad (in an STM case) when appropriate. He described the two-device approach as complementary: "they play really nice with one another. You can copy and paste between them, share files very easily." Patton also highlighted planned classroom hardware upgrades such as VSonic interactive panels and continued use of the district's AI tools pilot.
Board members asked about the rollout schedule. Patton said the MacBook Neos for teachers are intended to be available in June if possible, teacher iPads in July for teachers who choose to pick them up, and student iPads will be distributed when students return to school for the next academic year. He said middle- and high-school devices are the immediate focus for this refresh and that K1 iPad replacements are also scheduled for completion this summer.
Patton emphasized instructional intent: technology should be used "when it makes sense to solve that problem," and he said the district is investing in instructional-technology staff to support the rollout and classroom integration.
The board did not take a vote on procurement during the meeting; Patton concluded with an offer to answer additional questions as the procurement timeline progresses.
