The N&R reports (unposted) that Guilford County Schools staff has recommended leasing tablets from Amplify, the educational division of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. with the $30 million in federal grant the system was awarded in December.
The district received proposals from seven companies, with tablets ranging in price from $199 to $1,239 each per year. Amplify, which uses the Android operating system, submitted the lowest bid.
John O’Connell, a sales leader with Amplify, told school board members at a meeting Thursday that the company can keep its prices low because it is well-funded, focuses solely on K-12 education and doesn’t pad its margins.
The school board will vote on the supplier next week.
