http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130516-NEWS-305160340?cid=sitesearch
KENNEBUNK — After a decade-long relationship with
Apple that has helped students "sparkle," local school administrators
are exploring whether a move to Hewlett-Packard would be in the best
interest of students or as "shocking" as they anticipate it could be.
Gov. Paul LePage decided at the end of April to switch the state's preferred supplier of middle school laptops from Apple to Hewlett-Packard, after 10 years of supplying Apple laptops to seventh- and eighth-graders. Instead, the governor's administration has opted to go with the personal computer platform.
Local districts are being given the final
choice, but are now weighing the decision as they will have to pay any
cost difference.
"I really feel that now those laptops are utilized at an incredibly high level, not just the frequency but the types of things they are used for," RSU 21 Superintendent Andrew Dolloff said of the Apple technology that students and staff have used for the past decade. "So, now, to think that we would switch over to HP is quite shocking for a lot of people."
Administrators said staff create and store files on the Apple technology, including everything from curriculums to lesson plans, and students use the technology daily in their classrooms. A change to HP could potentially mean teachers losing files, students not having the same opportunities, and a significant learning curve for staff and students.
"HP would be a radical change to something new," said RSU 21 IT Director Jamie Jenson.
No comments:
Post a Comment