Dougherty schools buying 120 iPads

ALBANY — The Dougherty County School Board at its regular mid-month meeting on Wednesday approved a no-bid purchase of 120 Apple iPads for $82,759.

The no-bid was a result of Apple being the sole provider after HP announced recently it was getting out of the tablet business.

“We need to get this technology into the hands of our students, and move into the 21st century,” board member Darrel Ealum said just before the 6-0 vote. “This technology is critical for our children.”

In other business, the board failed to approve the recommendation of the hiring of three assistant principals at Jackson Heights, Lamar Reese and Morningside when the board deadlocked 3-3.

Board member Milton Griffin was absent from the board meeting.

The Board approved 6-0 to seek bids on a $10.5 million Tax Anticipation Note — which is a loan intended to provide the system with operating funds until the end of the year when tax revenue flows in. The Board also approved renaming it MIS (Management Information Systems) Department to IT (Information Technology).

The next board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 12.