By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school district applied for funds that officials hope to use to buy new iPad for Hays Middle School students.
The application is for emergency connectivity funds of up to $320,000 for 800 iPads. The connectivity funds are federal COVID relief funds.
The district has already saved $464,000 by using emergency connectivity funds to purchase 1,100 computer devices for the district. The district previously purchased computers for the high school students and staff.
This will be the third round of funding under the program.
If the district is fully funded for the latest round of the program, the district will have saved about $800,000 on technology purchases. The district has matched funds at 30 percent of the total cost of the devices.
The school board Monday approved the purchase of the new iPad contingent on receiving federal funds.
Scott Summers, technology director, said he hopes to receive the devices within six weeks of ordering them.
The board Monday also approved a policy on the use of therapy dogs and service animals in schools, heard a report on the board self-evaluation and discussed the upcoming selection of a board president and vice president. That selection will happen in July.
Cover photo courtesy of Unsplash