3,000 iPads, MacBooks Coming To Eden Prairie Schools

Eden Prairie schools will get up to 3,000 iPads, MacBooks and other high-tech equipment later this year.

Recently the Eden Prairie School Board unanimously approved the terms of a proposed technology lease agreement, which is part of the district's i-Learn@EP initiative

“This is an equalizer,” said school board Director Dave Espe at a Sept. 25 meeting.

The board hopes to begin incorporating the new devices into the curriculum at Central Middle School (CMS). Both CMS and Eden Prairie High School have the network capacity to support these tools, according to Josh Swanson, executive director of technology for the district.

During the meeting, board members discussed hosting sessions to gauge the community’s response to the equipment. They also talked about parents' expectations and how they will manage their children’s use of the technology after school.

“If we want our teachers to create and be productive, we need to put the tool in their hands,” said Superintendent Curt Tryggestad. “It just happens to be the best hammer in the toolbox right now.”

The lease will cost $400,000 for the first year. However, because the terms include an annual non-appropriation clause, yearly costs will always fall within the board-approved technology budget.