Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Technology And Textbooks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves textbook appropriation and a preK–1 device refresh to iPads
Summary
The board approved moving county textbook funds into the textbook line for summer purchases and a device refresh that will replace class sets in preK–1 with small-group iPads; older Chromebooks will be surplused when beyond end of life.
The New Kent County School Board approved a textbook appropriation to move county fund-balance dollars into the district textbook line so summer textbook purchases can be completed. During the related presentation Ross Miller described the district’s plan to refresh devices in preK–1, moving from whole-class Chromebook or Lenovo tablet sets to small-group iPads.
"For especially for small children having more of a touch device versus a keyboard is much easier for them to use," Ross Miller said, explaining the pedagogical reasoning and simpler app management on touch devices. He added that the current Chromebooks and Lenovo tablets being replaced are at the end of their useful life and that the district plans to surplus devices that cannot be reused.
Board members asked how the district will manage the older Chromebooks. Staff replied the older units are beyond end of life and the usual surplus process will be followed for any items that still have salvage value. The motion to approve the textbook appropriation and attendant device refresh passed during the action-item portion of the meeting.
Staff said further details on device management, classroom implementation and back-to-school technology plans will be shared before the upcoming school year.
