School Board Unanimously Approves iPad Minis for Students

The Kirkwood School Board unanimously approved the purchase of 625 iPad Minis for selected students in kindergarten through grade 12.

The board voted in favor of the first phase of a student iPad initiative at its meeting Tuesday. Students will receive the iPad Minis in about a month, according to School Board President Scott Stream. 

"I'm excited about the personalization of education, the one-to-one relationships," Stream told Patch. "It is the latest technology that's going to allow us to do a lot of things."

Students who receive iPads will serve as a test group for the one-to-one technology initiative that aims to place iPads in the hands of all students in the Kirkwood School District.

Such an initiative is a first among school districts in St. Louis County.

"We're moving into uncharted waters regarding the one-to-one personalization mode," Stream said. "We just want to make sure we're doing it as best as possible." 

Phase I will cost the district $213,875 to be paid for with money from its technology fund. The cost covers 625 iPad Minis and cases and two classroom iPad carts. Students in third grade and above will be allowed to take the tablets home while younger students will use devices only in the classroom.

"Although there is an initial outlay of cost, the potential of savings in textbooks is huge," Stream said.

After analyzing Phase I at the end of the school year, the district will present findings to the school board before deciding whether to continue with rolling out iPads to students.

Precisely how the devices would be rolled out is uncertain but it's likely the tablets would be in the hands of all district students before the 2015-2016 school year. 

To learn more, see:

• Kirkwood School Board Considers iPad Minis for Students
• iPads for Kirkwood Students: Officials Explore Pilot Program
• Kirkwood Teachers to Get iPads