AAPS OKs New Apple Computers

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The Ann Arbor Public School board approved the purchase of new Apple computers at its Feb. 27, 2013 meeting. The district will use money from the technology bond to purchase the 1,900 iMac 21-inch desktop computers and the 400 MacBook Pro 13-inch laptops for a total cost of $2,431,700 – $1,974,100 for the iMacs; $457,600 for the MacBooks.

The iMacs will replace the eMac computers currently in use in computer labs district-wide. They will be used for Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing next fall.

The MacBooks will replace the older laptops in one computer cart at each elementary school. The older computer cart laptops will then be used to replace other failing laptops.

Apple, Inc. had initially offered the standard 7% educational discount plus 13%. On Feb. 11, the company approved a larger discount to AAPS, which translates to an amount between 15 and 25% off the list price. The new discount is reflected in the total purchase amounts.

The software upgrade that will be needed as a result of the computer purchase will be most likely be paid for with the savings that result from the use of the technology bond to purchase new copying machines  – instead of that purchase coming from the general fund.

The vote on Feb. 27 came after the board had been briefed at its Feb. 13, 2013 meeting.

This brief was filed from the board room of the Ann Arbor District Library in downtown Ann Arbor at Fifth and William. A more detailed report of the meeting will follow: [link]