By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

On Monday night, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education voted 4-2 to approve the financing of 2,100 Apple iPads for grades K-8, but decided to wait on approving financing for Windows devices for grades 9-12. The board requested a detailed plan on how many Windows devices will be purchased and implemented at Hays High School.

From a pool of six vendors, the lowest bid for Windows devices was “up to $551,000” from the Bank of Hays at 1. 24 percent for four years.

“Not to take a counter stance, I have been for (technology) and I have supported (the technology plan) … it just seems to me now we are getting down to the end and there are still some details not here,” board member Josh Waddell said. “I understand (the request) to get the institution approved so we can borrow money, but I am not going to approve something to borrow money when we don’t even know how much we need to borrow.”

Director of Finance Tracy Kaiser pointed out the the administration wanted to “lock-in” the low interest rate at Bank of Hays. Both Kaiser and Superintendent Dean Katt said the technology committee would not spend more than was needed when request-for-proposals for the Windows devices are received.

Technology Director Brian Drennon said he plans to have RFPs for the Windows devices by mid-May.

The accepted and lowest finance plan for the iPads came from Apple Financial Services at up to $730,307 at just over 1 percent interest for 4 years.

Board members Josh Bickle and Greg Schwartz were the dissenting members, both voting early into the discussion to table the entire technology financing discussion until the state approves the district’s technology plan May 1.

In March, the board approved the purchase of technology device for every student with a stipulation the proposed four-year lease agreement will not exceed more than the current technology budget of a little more than $1.5 million over the next four years.

Board member Danielle Lang was absent from the meeting.

Related Story: On 5-2 vote USD 489 approves tech device for every student.