Summit Hill 161 Explores Switch to MacBooks for Teachers, Plans Pilot Program

Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025

Article Summary: Summit Hill School District 161 is considering a district-wide switch from Microsoft Surface laptops to MacBook Airs for its teaching staff to create a unified technology ecosystem with student iPads. The board on Wednesday discussed a proposal for a pilot program to purchase an initial set of 20-25 MacBooks for its Technology Task Force to test before a final decision is made.

MacBook Pilot Program Key Points:

• The district is exploring replacing its aging fleet of five- to six-year-old Microsoft Surface laptops for teachers.

• A pilot program was proposed to purchase approximately 20-25 MacBook Airs for members of the district’s Technology Task Force to test in a classroom setting.

• The goal is to assess how well MacBooks integrate with student iPads and existing classroom technology before committing to a full, district-wide purchase of over 300 devices.

• Board members suggested expanding the pilot group to include not only tech-savvy teachers but also those who may be more hesitant about the change.

Summit Hill School District 161 is exploring a major technology shift for its staff, discussing a plan on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, to pilot Apple MacBook Air laptops as a potential replacement for the district’s aging fleet of Microsoft Surface devices.

The proposal, brought forward as an informational item, calls for purchasing an initial 20 to 25 MacBooks for the district’s Technology Task Force. This group, composed of teacher leaders from every grade level, would test the devices in a real-world classroom environment over the next five to six months. The district’s technology director, Brian Skibinski, explained the pilot would help iron out any bugs related to software compatibility and integration with classroom tools like screen projectors before the board considers a large-scale purchase of approximately 330 laptops next spring.

“We really don’t have teachers really using them in a classroom environment,” Skibinski said, noting that some administrators and coaches already use Macs. “We want to be able to test them… in a true teaching environment to make sure that we have everything set and have worked everything out before we make a recommendation.”

The primary motivation for the potential switch is to create a more seamless technology ecosystem, as all students in the district use iPads. The current staff laptops are five to six years old and are showing their age, with staff complaining of issues like overheating and poor battery life. Skibinski noted that the MacBook Air is similarly priced to comparable Windows-based laptops—around

$850–$

900 per unit—but offers all-day battery life and better integration with the Apple products already used by students.

Board members were receptive to the pilot idea but raised questions about the transition and training process. “I think we should give it a lot more thought as to how we would be doing some training,” said board member Ronnie Petrey, suggesting optional summer sessions to help staff feel comfortable.

Board member Joy Murphy suggested the pilot group should include not only tech-savvy teachers but also those who might be more apprehensive about changing platforms. “I would maybe pick some of them, but I would also pick some that maybe have to learn,” she said.

Superintendent Dr. Paul McDermott agreed, stating the importance of individualizing the approach to training. “We had some implementation issues,” he said, referencing a previous technology rollout. “This group that we put together is to help us implement with fidelity, make sure it looks right, feels right for people, and that we avoid costly mistakes.”

The administration plans to incorporate the board’s feedback and present a formal motion to approve the pilot purchase at the November board meeting.