A proposal to give Atlantic High School students Apple MacBook Air laptop computers beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, was approved by the Atlantic School Board during their meeting Monday night. The 1:1 (One-to-One) program will cost more than $625,650 over the course of four-years, but the District got a jumpstart on paying for the plan thanks to the generosity of a local bank.

Board President Kristy Pellett read a letter from 1^st Whitney Bank and Trust President/CEO Paul J. Gude, whereby Gude pledged their support of the proposal to “Enhance the academic success of the district’s students.” Gude said in his letter 1^st Whitney Bank will pledge $50,000 towards the first phase of the project. On behalf of the School Board, Pellett thanked Gude and District Technology Coordinator Roger Warne for teaming together to form the public/private business partnership which will make the program possible.

Warne said the official Apple quote came in $25,000 less than what was expected. The Apple Lease Program runs $124,000 per year for the four-year contract, not including $90,000 worth of “add-on’s” that includes cases and software. Superintendent Mike Amstein had tentatively budgeted $160,000 per year for the program to make it a “workable situation.” Warne said the entire project would cost about $152,000 per year, with a two-percent loan rate.

Warne said with the Board’s approval, he can begin to solicit additional donations from businesses and individuals to help defer some of the costs, especially for the first year of the program.