Scarsdale, New York (January 22, 2013) – Edgemont School Foundation (ESF) announced today that it has awarded a grant of $89,000 to fund a district-wide iPad initiative, aiming to integrate mobile computing devices into all three of the Edgemont schools. The grant will provide a total of 105 iPads to the district, offering students and teachers the benefit of portable tablet computing and the multitude of available applications designed to support learning.

Edgemont School Foundation co-chair Steven Heineman said, “The use of iPads in all three Edgemont schools will keep Edgemont on the cutting edge of both technology and education. iPads have many advantages over traditional PCs, and with the large number of apps that have been designed specifically for educational purposes, iPads will provide a new and exciting dimension to the classroom. We are pleased to have been able to provide the necessary funding to make this initiative a reality.”

In total, the district will deploy four iPad carts (one in each elementary school and two at Edgemont Jr/Sr High School. Each cart will contain 25 iPads. There will be 5 extra iPads available that will be used either as loaners or as replacements should the units in the cart need repair or maintenance. The grant also includes the infrastructure to manage and support all 105 iPads in the district: a MacBook for local management and a virtual server. Finally, it will provide four AppleTV units that will enable iPad users to share their screen through ceiling mounted projectors in the classrooms around the building. The elementary carts will be housed in each of the school’s library. The two carts at EHS will be located in the E-Building and in the D-Building.

Michael Curtain, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Technology for the district thanked Edgemont School Foundation for its support. “We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Edgemont School Foundation. It will help us to continue to integrate cutting-edge technology with the curriculum in the classroom. The iPad is an excellent solution for schools for a number of reasons, including ease of use, portability, reliability and the ability to deploy apps quickly and inexpensively. The iPads will be a great addition to Edgemont teachers’ toolkits for creating and supporting rich, dynamic, and engaging learning experiences for their students. We appreciate Edgemont School Foundation’s ongoing support for technology and learning in Edgemont schools.”

EDGEMONT SCHOOL FOUNDATION
After several failed school budget referendums in the early 1990’s, many Edgemonters desired a vehicle that could create and finance new and alternative school programs and maintain the District’s tradition of excellence. Founded in 1993, Edgemont School Foundation, through its endowment, awards monetary grants that support and enhance the Edgemont School District’s curriculum, students, and teachers. Since its inception, Edgemont School Foundation has granted over $1 Million to the Edgemont School District for programs that have improved the curriculum, modernized facilities, and enhanced the educational experience of all Edgemont students. Edgemont School Foundation is a fully qualified IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity.

Contacts:

Nancy Taddiken:
914-472-7768
Superintendent, Edgemont School District

Andrew Falk:
917-287-9020
Co-Chair Edgemont School Foundation

Steven Heineman:
914-450-4374
Co-Chair Edgemont School Foundation