Lansing board approves $635,925 iPad refresh to replace aging devices

The Lansing Board of Education approved a multi‑year iPad refresh plan totaling $635,925 to replace older devices and standardize student endpoints, with payment to be made in four installments from July 15, 2026, through July 15, 2029.

Technology staff explained that varying device generations have created management and security problems and that older generation iPads (Gen 7/8) are approaching end of life and no longer receive security updates or meet testing requirements. The plan prioritizes refreshing secondary devices first and then rotating devices to fill elementary needs; staff said about 2,800 district student devices are in circulation and roughly 250 are Gen 7/8.

The presentation addressed alternatives such as MacBook Neo machines and shared or cart‑based device models, but staff cited supply constraints for MacBook Neos and compatibility with district curriculum and testing platforms as reasons to proceed with iPads and keyboard cases for secondary students. The purchase includes a plan to liquidate floated devices to offset one year of costs through buyback agreements.

Board discussion touched on screen‑time concerns and whether a 1:1 model remains appropriate at primary grades. Staff said elementary classrooms still use books, paper and pencil as core instructional tools and that iPads are a supplemental, individualized tool. After discussion, the board approved the iPad refresh 7–0.