Continuing the discussion on what the district will look like in 2020, Superintendent Michael Roth talked with the board members at the May 5 operations meeting about financing one-to-one technology for all students in the Salisbury Township School District.

Currently the district provides one-to-one laptops for students in grades six through 12.

The district is at the end of the lease agreement with the last $239,000 payment due in August. Next year, if the district chooses to keep the laptops, they will be out of warranty.

The proposal by the district is to provide an iPad for all students in kindergarten and first grade and laptops for all students in grades two through 12. The equipment in the elementary schools would only be used in the classroom and would not be taken home. Laptops provided to students in sixth through 12th grades can either stay in the school at night or taken home with parent involvement.

Coordinator of Technology Chris Smith attended the meeting and asked the board to consider purchasing the new servers and the iPads now out of the 2013-2014 budget. He said the cost would be approximately $100,000.

Roth proposed reducing the four building budgets by a total of $70,000 and take $30,000 out of the transportation budget for the $100,000 for the current school year.

For next year's budget, Roth said the district is expected to receive a 2014-2015 Ready to Learn Grant for $104,000 from the state as part of Governor Tom Corbett's proposed budget. Roth said he received approval from PDE and the money can be used for a lease payment if the board chooses.

Smith said the existing laptops are in good condition and can be sold for over $500,000.

The total 4-year lease for the new equipment is $1.9 million - $396,000 annually with a five payment structure. Two payments due in 2014-2015 of $376,000 and $396,000.

Smith said the district would be adding 440 to 500 units. The first payment is an equity payment.

The district currently pays $239,000 annually; the new proposed lease payment would be $396,000– a difference of $157,000.

For the term of the new lease, they propose taking $60,000 from all four building budgets for technology.

Smith said the district expects revenues of $36,000 for being an Apple Service Provider.

With $96,000 from the building budgets and revenue from being an Apple Service Provider, administrators said there would be a $12,000 annual increase in the technology budget to provide new technology on a one-to-one basis for all students.

Smith said Apple operating system upgrades are free.

Roth said the district chose Apple products because of the value of the hardware and the fact the district can earn revenue by its Apple Service Provider status.

To summarize, the district expects to receive $511,000 equity in selling existing equipment, will pay $239,000 for the last lease payment to own the equipment and $272,000 would be applied to a down payment for the new equipment.

Board President Russell Giordano said he was concerned about the conversation of paying for something before the board has decided what is best.