Students and staff to receive iPads and MacBook Air laptops

Delta Digital News Service

Wednesday, March 12, 2024

By Brayden Morse | Contributor

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Jonesboro Public School Board approved the purchase of tablet computers for food services and Apple iPads and MacBook Air laptop computers for staff and students Tuesday night.

The school board approved the purchase of 790 Apple MacBook Air laptop computers, 1,317 Apple iPads and 1,117 rugged iPad cases. The total cost is $1,151,607.15.

Students at The Academics at Jonesboro High School will use 560 of the Apple Air laptop computers, including a three-year AppleCare+ warranty. Staff members will use 230 of the computers, including a four-year AppleCare+ warranty. All 1,317 Apple iPads will be used at K-6 campuses. All purchases come from Title I funds, ESA funds and ARP ESSER funds. The 44 Dell Latitude 7230 food service tablets cost $117,106.22.

Jonesboro Public Schools Superintendent Kim Wilbanks shares details on the software needed for the tablets and computers.

“This is not a very high-end software that requires a lot of oomph to the computer. Even though the food service employee doesn’t include Aramark, they are responsible for the delivery of the meal. We hold responsibilities in terms of the service of the food or delivery of the food,” Wilbanks said.

The tablets and computers will be ready for use in Fall 2024. There is not a set date of when the tablets and computers will be delivered, but Jonesboro School District federal programs director Kris Williams said, “Apple is pretty quick on shipping. They will probably be in late April at the latest. That will give staff enough time to prepare for next school year.”

In other parts of the meeting, the school board approved moving the non-student day/non-contracted day from April 19 to April 8, which is Eclipse Day. The total solar eclipse will attract more than two million additional people in Arkansas and 750,000 additional automobiles, estimated by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.

The Academies at Jonesboro High School counselors presented the 2024 Pathway of Study. The pathways include health and human services (HHS), business, communication arts and law (BCAL) and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

HHS provides the medical science pathway, family and consumer science, navy national defense cadet corps, educational training, nursing and culinary arts.

BCAL provides the pre-law pathway, visual arts, journalism, banking, criminal justice, office administration, digital marketing, automobile collision repair, automobile service technology, digital cinema productions and advertising and graphic design.

STEM provides the advanced mathematics pathway, engineering, industrial technology, computer networking and cyber security, pre-professional sciences, construction-HVAC technology, advanced manufacturing, robotics/mechanical engineering, computer science and programming, welding technology and unmanned aerial systems.

Jonesboro high school counselor Charles Gabe shared information on the increase in STEM students over the past couple years and the impact the welding class has made on students.

“Many months ago we started the STEM academy capped at 200 students because we only had 200 computers to give to students. We’ve built on that, worked on that over the years and now we’re up to 450 students. Welding is probably our most popular class. We’re getting more females who want to be welders so that’s exciting as well,” Gabe said.

…Welding is probably our most popular class. We’re getting more females who want to be welders so that’s exciting as well,” Gabe said.

Charles Gabe, Jonesboro High School Counselor

With recognition at the beginning of the meeting, the school board recognized Terrance Brown for top scholar 7A athlete of the year and Trey Harding for 6A athletic director of the year. Brown played football and basketball for Jonesboro, finishing his high school career with a 4.25 grade point average.

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