Greensburg Salem board approves $326,832 Apple device lease for middle school students, 6–1

The Greensburg Salem School District board on May 20 approved the purchase of 560 student and 60 faculty Apple devices at a contract price of $326,832 and authorized entry into a four-year lease with an interest rate of 2.79 percent, in a 6–1 roll-call vote.

Board discussion centered on which grades the lease would cover, when devices would be distributed and whether teachers would have district-issued devices for summer planning. The superintendent and administrative staff said this procurement covers grades 6–8 (middle school) and that, if approved tonight, purchase orders would be submitted and the vendor would bill in the next fiscal year. The district also discussed a program buyback that administration said can recoup as much as half the device cost after the leasing/refresh cycle.

“I just want to make sure that every teacher in the district has a computer because if we are asking or suggesting that they work over the summer ... I don't want them to have to use their personal equipment,” a board member said during the discussion.

Administration defended the lease as part of a planned multi-year technology replacement cycle intended to stabilize annual technology spending and described the buyback feature as an offset to costs. Board members asked about alternatives such as computer labs and about the lease rate; administration said it would shop rates if costs rose materially.

When the board took a roll-call vote, the motion carried 6–1; one member recorded a “no” vote. If the motion passes through administrative procurement steps, the district anticipates training for middle school teachers over the summer and delivery of devices in July to allow preparation before school starts.