The Knoxville School Board has voted in favor of purchasing new iPads for use by students in its various schools; but they will keep their aging stock of laptops in operation for now, to supplement the new devices.

The board was asked to consider a lease purchase arrangement from Apple for the new devices; but they faced a difficult choice, because iPads cost less and have access to a variety of apps, but can be limited in some areas due to the lack of keyboards or a port for flash drives.

The district’s current supply of laptops is around eight or nine years old, and these aging units are starting to be taken out of commission as they become impossible to repair.

But the ones that still work will be kept in service for now; they can be shared between classes or departments, and used for functions which are difficult to accomplish on a typical iPad.

The iPads are expected to have a life of about four years; in the meantime, the district will monitor their usage versus the older laptops, and measure their impact on students’ work.