By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Although the final bell has rung for the 2012-13 school season, students in RSU 29 may be excited to learn that they will have a new piece of technology in their hands next year.
The RSU 29 board signed off on a plan to introduce iPads for students next school year, to replace the current MacBook laptops the district has been using.
No formal vote on the technology plan was taken during the June 10 board meeting. Instead the board gave Superintendent Mike Hammer the authority to go forward with a plan to purchase 737 iPads at a cost of $159,426 to the district per year for the next four years.
Funding for the 2013-14 school year was factored into the district’s recently approved budget.
The move is in conjunction with the Maine Learning Technology Initiative created by the state in 2002 to provide laptop computers for students in grades 7-8. RSU 29, like many other school districts, expanded that program to include laptops for those in grades 9-12.
Now that effort will be taken a step farther, and the technology will be introduced to students in grades 4-6 as well.
In addition to the 737 units paid for by the school district, RSU 29 will also receive 212 iPads, at a cost of $46,004, paid for through the MLTI program. Under the MLTI program, all of Maine’s 226 middle schools are provided computers for students and teachers.
In 2009, school districts were able to offer the technology to grades 9-12, at their own expense, through the MLTI program. According to the MLTI website, only 66 public high schools (55 percent) opted to pay for computers for their students, based on data collected in 2010.
Earlier this year, Governor Paul LePage announced his preference to see schools shift away from MacBooks in favor of PC-based Hewlett Packard laptops, stating that HPs were more commonly found in the business world than their Apple counterparts.
School districts were given the choice of switching to the HP format or staying with the Apple-based products. If a school district opted to remain with the Apple products, the state would reimburse the district up to $286 per machine for the next four years.
Since iPads are considerably cheaper at $217 per unit, many school districts are joining RSU 29 in choosing this option. Neighboring SAD 70 also chose the iPad as its unit of choice for grades 7-12. In addition to the $217 per unit, RSU 29 must also pay $18 per unit to upgrade the district’s network.
RSU 29 may be one of the first districts to introduce the technology, on a widespread basis, to the younger students.
“We were able to stay within our budget and offer machines to Houlton Southside School students as well,” Hammer said. “I realize it’s a stretch, but after talking with other superintendents there are multiple reasons for going with this machine.”
A representative from Apple spoke to students and teachers at Houlton High School and the overwhelming response was students favored the table-based iPad, Hammer said.
“We realize going with the iPad will be a challenge, but we feel this is the best application,” Hammer said. “I believe these units will take our district forward. I wish we could go K-12 with them. Every classroom I go into at the elementary school, students ask if they can have an iPad.”
Some board members expressed concern on the durability of the iPad versus laptops. Hammer said the iPad unit was actually more durable than laptops. However, students in grades 4-6 will not be permitted to carry the iPads around Houlton Southside School nor take them home. Instead, the units will remain in the classroom. Those in grades 7-8 will be allowed to carry their iPads throughout the school, but will not be allowed to take them home at night.
Those in grades 9-12 will be able to take the units home with them, provided they are properly cared for.
