School System Lowers Mac Deal From 2,300 iBooks To 1,130

by , 10:00 AM EDT, October 1st, 2003

Last Friday, we told you about a new school system deal with Apple that had been approved by District 834 School Board in St. Croix Valley, MN. That deal was to put more than 2,300 iBooks in the hands of students and teachers, and was approved in a mixed vote from a divided school board. Though not yet signed, the school board had authorized its IT department to pursue negotiations and close a deal if it deemed said deal to be a good one.

Today, The Pioneer Press is reporting that the school system is definitely entering into a deal with Apple, but it seems the school board has narrowed the focus of the program. Rather than 2,300 iBooks for two schools, the school district is getting some 1,130 iBooks for 1,000 students and 130 teachers. The program will be limited to one junior high school, and is being looked on as an experiment. From the Pioneer Press:

Providing laptops to more than 1,000 students at Oak-Land and about 130 junior high teachers will cost about US$1.7 million over the next five years. Apple is giving the district a discount that lowered the price by US$500,000. The program would have cost about US$2.85 million if Stillwater Junior High were included.

[...]

The agreement also includes a discount on Apple products for any family living in the school district.

There's more information in the full Pioneer Press article.

The Mac Observer Spin:

It's too bad that the school board couldn't find a way to make the original deal work out, but this is still an important sale for Apple. The company has put great stock in its one-on-one programs in public education, and this is one more such deal to help use as an example when talking to other school systems.

Pioneer Press Article