MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County School Board is discussing spending nearly $540,000 on iPads and laptops for community partners running pre-K programs.
WREG looked into the measure before the board discussed it Tuesday night.
Last fall, the board approved the purchase of 500 iPads for pre-K students in Headstart Centers. Now, board members will consider purchasing another 660 iPads, along with laptops and iPad carts, for community partners running pre-K programs, like KinderCare.
The district said it would help give more pre-K students the same opportunities.
Some school board members told WREG they look forward to learning more about the idea from the district at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“If we are able to provide children at that young age with access to technology, I think it can only benefit them, ” said SCS Board Chairperson Teresa Jones.
School Board Member Stephanie Love told WREG she has concerns.
“We’re a district where we’re constantly being told, you know, we’re strapped for cash,” Love said.
Love agrees that it is important to expose students to technology, but she says there are more pressing items in our schools right now.
“One of the biggest priorities I see right now is making sure that our schools have what they need when it comes to resources when it comes to teachers, you know when it comes to everyday things,” Love said.
One of the arguments WREG heard for iPads last year was the importance of exposing students to technology, particularly because of upcoming online state tests.
Just this week, the state decided to do away with taking the new TNReady test online for this school year, due to problems with the test vendor’s online system.
The state says it continues to shoot for computer-based testing and that tech is part of the real world it wants students to be prepared for.
The board did not vote on the measure Tuesday night.