St. Paul school board approves iPads for students
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St. Paul Public Schools approved plans to put an iPad in the hands of all students. The school board voted 5-2 Tuesday night in favor of the technology move.
Students at more than half of the district's schools will be issued iPads beginning fall 2014, and all students and teachers will have them in the 2015-2016 school year.
The price tag for the move is $5.7 million for the 2014-2015 school year, with only some schools receiving the devices in the first year. The board approved a plan for two three-year lease agreements with Apple for iPads and iPad minis, and a four-year lease for MacBooks. The total cost over the life of the leases adds up to about $17.7 million.
The district is ending its deal with computer company Dell in favor of iPads.
• Previously: St. Paul schools pick iPads over PCs for students
After voters approved a $9 million per year technology levy, the district in 2012 signed a $4.3 million contract with Dell to create a new digital learning platform that would put everything from assignments, to grades to parent and teacher interactions online. District officials decided they weren't going to get the system they wanted and cancelled the contract this year.
Other Minnesota districts that give iPads to students include Farmington, Rochester, Virginia, Watertown-Mayer, Wayzata, and Spring Lake Park.
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