RIH Details 2,500 Laptop Purchase from Apple

By Jessica Mazzola

The Ramapo Indian Hills “One-to-One” technology initiative took one step closer to becoming a reality Monday night as Board of Education members got a first look at a potential agreement between the district and Apple to purchase laptops for all of the students at Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools.

According to district Business Administrator Frank Ceurvels's description of the agreement to board members, the nearly $2.7 million price tag represents a significant discount off the price of the computers.

For the laptops the district plans to purchase for all of its students, the consumer cost would be about $999 per computer, Ceurvels said.

Apple offers schools an educational discount, and on top of that, RIH will receive a bulk purchase discount, he said. The final cost of each laptop will be $809, Ceurvels said.

“When you multiply that by 2,500 computers, it leads to some significant savings,” he said.

The pricing also includes some assistance from Apple employees who will provide on-site technical assistance to students and teachers when the laptops are delivered, school officials said.

And, the agreement includes a four-year interest-free payment plan for the computers, which Ceurvels said will lead to additional savings.

A finalized agreement is in the works, district officials said, and will be formally presented to the board once it is. The agreement can be finalized and approved in time for a January laptop roll-out, officials said.