District 58 Purchases Second Round of iPads for 1:1 Initiative

The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education approved the purchase of 820 iPad Minis to continue the implementation of a 1:1 device program for the 2013-14 school year.

The board voted unanimously Monday to approve the purchase from Apple for a total cost of $253,380. Because the tablets were purchased in packs of 10, District 58 paid a discounted price of $309 each.

District 58 purchased 650 iPad Minis in May for $200,850—bringing the total number of devices to 1,470 for the upcoming school year.

The year-long 1:1 device pilot program will allow District 58 administrators to study and analyze the use of individual iPads in the classroom. The district hopes to provide devices to all 5,000 of its students over the next three years.

Earlier this year, the district conducted three-week, unit-long pilots called "Learning Labs" to study student engagement and the overall atmosphere of classrooms using the devices.

Matt Rich, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, told board members Monday that the district is proud of its 1:1 model so far, and is looking forward to rolling out the program to several grade levels this fall.

"We want it to be a collaborative and communicative experience... These rooms should be loud," Rich said. "It should be a vibrant class atmosphere."

District 58 Technology Director Scott Meech said the District 58 model differs from those already implemented in large school systems like Los Angeles and Miami-Dade County. Meech and Rich said teachers will blend traditional and digital materials, using iPads to supplement the existing curriculum.

"This is a learning initiative with technology being a tool," Rich said.

As part of the 1:1 pilot program implementation, the District 58 board on Monday also approved the purchase of Lightspeed Systems Collaborative Filter licensing and a Lightspeed Rocket appliance, which will allow the district to filter students' Web access when they bring their iPads home from school.

The total cost for the first year of implementation is $10,410. The maintenance fee moving forward is $3 per user, per year, officials said.