— Technology in the form of the latest iPads will soon be a part of the educational process at three Athens schools.

The board of education approved the purchase of 120 Apple iPads Thursday to be placed at Athens Intermediate School, and Athens and Cowart elementary schools. The iPads will cost the system $69,918 and come out of technology funds for the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Technology Director Dr. Chris Hamilton made the request to Athens Superintendent Dr. Orman Bridges Jr., to purchase the mobile devices with remaining funds in the technology budget. Hamilton noted Apple is a member of the Alabama Joint Purchasing Agreement so it was not necessary to bid the items.

Hamilton said 60 iPads would be placed at Athens Intermediate and the remaining 60 would be placed in classrooms at Athens and Cowart elementary schools. She said those three are the only schools in the system with wireless network capabilities — a feature necessary for the use of iPads.

Hamilton said Athens Intermediate teachers would be able to bring the iPad carts into classrooms for whole group instruction or use a few iPads from the carts for collaborative group work. Teachers at Athens and Cowart elementary schools will use the iPads as technology rich “centers,” providing students access to enriching educational “apps,” according to Hamilton.

Bridges said the iPads would remain in school buildings and not be taken home by students. He said the devices contain tracking devices if stolen.

Last year, a number of Athens Elementary students underwent an iPad initiative for educators to determine how iPads enhance education.

Most teachers agreed their use led to increased class participation and engagement, improved behavior in the classroom, increased attendance and left a positive impact on student achievement. The teachers also agreed that students do not need a great deal of training to use the devices and that managing the iPads was not a burden. The educators said it was easy to find apps with educational value and students took care of the technology.

Bridges said they received a very positive response from last year’s pilot at Athens Elementary. He added the use of iPads goes hand-in-hand with new progress testing procedures through the state and that iPads can give teachers immediate feedback on the progress of a child. 

He believes the iPad has a lot of benefits for teachers and students including the access of free instructional apps that can be used as valuable tools as a student progresses.

The board also approved its five-year capital-spending plan Thursday for 2012-2013 as required by the state. The list, which includes upgrades to local wireless networks and new computers in the schools as well as additions, renovations and land improvements, does not include projects that have been completed or are nearly completed, but serves as a list of projects the board hopes to find funding for in the future.

Other approved items include:

• Resignations of Stacey Greenhaw, first-grade teacher at Cowart Elementary School; Jeremy Davis, bus driver; Orlando Turner, physical education aide at Athens Intermediate School; Don Bowling, head boys golf coach at Athens High School; and Josh Fuqua, seventh-grade boys head basketball coach at Athens Middle School;

• Employment of Bruce Craig, physical education teacher at Athens Middle School; Ashley Coffman, first-grade teacher at Cowart Elementary School; Brittany Johnson, physical education aide at Athens Intermediate School; Lisa Lindsey, CNP cashier/worker at Brookhill Elementary School; Bradley Willis, freshman boys basketball coach at Athens High School; Don Bowling, head girls golf coach at Athens High School; Natalie Harrison, assistant softball coach at Athens High School; Jeanne Ward, latchkey teacher at Brookhill Elementary School; Charles Thompson, assistant football coach at Athens Middle School; and Bruce Craig, seventh-and eighth-grade head boys basketball coach at Athens Middle School;

• Certified teacher pay for Britney Cashell, substitute for Jessica Lynn, preschool teacher at Athens Elementary.