Danvers district proposes grade‑band device model and lease‑to‑own MacBook Neo for high school

The Danvers School Committee received a technology update outlining a proposed restructuring of the district’s one‑to‑one device program and preliminary plans for a high‑school lease‑to‑own program. Jim Sullivan, director of technology, said the district surveyed stakeholders and is proposing different device models at each grade band to better match instructional needs.

Sullivan told the committee staff and family surveys informed the recommendations: "we had over 200 staff that provided feedback in the survey and over 350 families that responded," he said, citing concerns about Chromebook performance at the high-school level and family worries about screen time and cost.

Under the proposal: K–2 classrooms would rely on shared devices as needed; grades 3–5 would retain classroom‑based one‑to‑one devices; middle school would extend the cart‑based model piloted in grade six; and the high school would begin a lease‑to‑own program in grade nine using the new MacBook Neo hardware. Sullivan described the proposed high‑school plan as a multi‑year payment option that would include four years of AppleCare and a district process for financial waivers so families can access devices regardless of ability to pay.

Sullivan said the district is testing the MacBook Neo in its environment and that the device’s cost point and performance make it a feasible candidate. He also announced the district received Chromebooks through the Mass Broadband Institute’s Connected and Online program to supply devices to families who lack home access.

Questions from committee members focused on management of mixed‑device classrooms during rollout, repair logistics, device lifecycle and trade‑in value, and software compatibility for specialized classes. Sullivan said AppleCare would be purchased with devices for the four‑year period and repairs would be coordinated through district instructional technologists with Apple service as needed. He noted that some specialized labs (CAD, art, music/TV studios) will remain available for high‑end workflows that require different machines.

What’s next: Sullivan said staff will continue refining cost models and implementation timelines, include a financial‑assistance waiver process for families, and coordinate professional development for teachers to manage mixed devices during the transition.

Ending: The committee did not vote on procurement at this meeting; the update sets expectations for follow‑up budget and implementation decisions.