Indiana board rejects Macs

The East Gibson board in Oakland, Indiana has voted to reject a proposal for the purchase of around 200 Apple computers that were headed to a local school, voicing concern about methods used by Apple and some EGSC administrators to facilitate the deal. The proposal had not received final approval from the board, but more than 100 Macs had already shipped to Wood Memorial Junior High School by the time the board convened to discuss the matter. At least two board members and several patrons proceeded to question one superintendent and the board president about the proposal, according to the Princeton Daily Clarion. After a lengthy debate, the board voted by a 3-2 vote to reject Apple's proposal and start "from the ground up."

Fearing that the school -- which is currently home to some computers that are roughly 20 years old -- would miss out on the deal Apple was offering, Superintendent Lynn Blinzinger sent in purchase orders to secure the systems, but said that the school was under no obligation to keep them.

"We sent the purchase orders because we were afraid if [Apple] didn't get them to us, they would not be available for the cheap price we're getting them for," said Blinzinger.

Board Member Karen Cox said she was in favor of purchasing the computers for the students' benefit, but was unhappy that the board had received mixed messages during all of the negotiations with Apple.

by MacNN Staff