PA District Supports Elementary AR/VR Program with 60 iPads

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/25/19

A Pennsylvania school district is ramping up its device and software inventory. The school board for West Jefferson Hills School District recently approved numerous technology acquisitions, including the lease of Chromebooks and purchase of iPads.

The board approved lease of 720 Chromebooks, laptops and desktop computers from Dell for $350,527. The lease, to be handled through First American Education Finance will last 36 months, with zero-percent interest and an annual charge of $106,871.

The Apple iPads are needed for a continuing augmented and virtual reality program in the elementary grades. The idea is to add 60 iPads on two mobile carts, half for use in the media center and the other half to be moved among classrooms. The cost for that was listed in board documents as $27,837, which included $4,500 for educator professional development.

Among the other technology purchases approved were:

  • The five-year leasing and installation of projectors for the district's new Thomas Jefferson High School, for $114,310;

  • Purchase of Google Chromeboxes, compact desktop computers, for district-wide use, priced at $19,397 from Bit Direct;

  • District-wide network firewall hardware and services from Dell for $16,338; and

  • Purchase of video display monitors from CDW-G (up to $110,353) and COSTARS ($16,224).

As a sign of the times, the board also approved donation of chalk no longer needed by the high school to local non-profits.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • handshake between two individuals with AI icons (brain, chip, network, robot) in the background

    Microsoft, Amazon Announce New Commitments in Support of Presidential AI Challenge

    At the Sept. 4 meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, Microsoft and Amazon announced new commitments to expanding AI education and skills training.

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.