Board approves iPad purchase for secondary students

The Manistee Area Public Schools Board of Education voted April 9 to approve an Apple iPad purchase for secondary students. The motion to approve the purchase was made by board member Justine Slawinski and supported by Dr. Paul Antal; the motion passed with six yes votes and one abstention by board member Jim Thompson.

Board members heard that the iPads would include a full keyboard case and a suite of educational applications intended to expand classroom options and make student work easier to upload. As one presenter summarized during the business item, "Using Ipads at the secondary level has big advantages. Ipad will have a full keyboard case. Whole host of APPS that are educational related. It opens up a huge amount of different avenues. Including a better camera for uploading work." The transcript also records that staff arranged classroom observations in Ludington and that a majority of teachers who reviewed iPad use favored the switch.

The board recorded the motion and the vote on the record: Justine Slawinski (mover), Dr. Paul Antal (support), Dr. Paul Antal—Yes; Jess Stallings—Yes; Justine Slawinski—Yes; Ashley Sensabaugh—Yes; Theresa Anderson—Yes; Shelley Johnson—Yes; Jim Thompson—Abstained. The board did not specify in the meeting transcript the precise dollar amount or vendor contract details for the purchase; those details were presented "as part of the action item" and are not specified in the available transcript.

The approval follows the district's business agenda and moves procurement toward implementation; staff will proceed with next procurement steps per standard district procedures.