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SLPS plans districtwide Apple transition, projects lower lifecycle costs
Summary
The district’s CTO proposed moving from Dell devices to a unified Apple ecosystem (iPads for younger students, MacBook Neos for high-school students and many staff), citing a 38% reduction in aggregated device investment and a four‑year refresh plan; trustees asked about capacity for CTE classes, family training, and Windows‑only software.
Natasha Mitchell, the district’s chief technology officer, presented a multi‑year plan to standardize devices across St. Louis Public Schools by transitioning from Windows/Dell hardware to an Apple ecosystem. The plan calls for iPads pre‑K–8 and the MacBook Neo for incoming ninth graders and most staff, with principals receiving MacBook Airs.
Mitchell said Apple devices reduce fragmentation, improve device management and cybersecurity, and lower total cost of ownership. The district’s cost comparison presented an aggregated 38% reduction in upfront investment for the modeled devices—an "Apple total investment" of roughly $2.2 million vs. $3.6 million for a Dell-based model in the slide deck—and emphasized longer Apple device lifecycles and higher resale value.
Board members raised technical and equity questions. Some trustees asked about the MacBook Neo’s non-upgradeable memory for students in advanced CTE or multimedia classes; Mitchell replied that the district would provision MacBook Pros for specialized classes where higher processing power is needed. Trustees also pressed on potential re-licensing costs for Windows-native instructional or operational software; the district said Microsoft licensing is already in place and that two Windows‑only platforms (SAP and Kronos) will require some Dell devices for roughly one additional year.
The presentation included operational plans for training staff and families. Mitchell described plans for targeted professional development, summer training for tech fellows, a family "tech fair," and parent-facing online resources. To address after-hours content concerns, the district said it is implementing a LightSpeed content filter and exploring parent-control options so that schools can balance student safety with family access to devices.
Next steps: The district will proceed with the phased procurement outlined in the four‑year refresh plan, begin staff training and pilot one-to-one deployment for incoming ninth graders, and return with procurement specifics and an update on specialized device allocations for CTE coursework.
