The School District of Lancaster board of directors on Tuesday authorized the district to purchase an additional 4,600 iPads at a cost of nearly $2 million. The additional devices will ensure the district can provide one device per student, though delivery is not expected in time for this school year.
The bold move comes in response to the COVID-19 emergency which has caused SDoL teachers to shift instruction to online platforms while students are under stay-at-home orders. The district provided devices to students in grades 1 through 12, but limited elementary students to one device per family.
Funding came from one-time sources, including more than $500,000 in private donations and grants and anticipated federal stimulus dollars.
“The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the significant inequities between our affluent school districts and districts that serve a large portion of low-income families,” superintendent Dr. Damaris Rau said. “We are fortunate that private donors and foundations stepped up to provide support and match long overdue state and federal support.”
The district aims to deploy the devices at the start of the next school year.