Employee Technology Guide

 

2026 Staff Device Refresh Information

Backup & Prep Your Old Laptop  |  Make the Swap  |  Swap Days  |  iPad Collection  |  FAQ
Setting up Your New Macbook

The district will be refreshing staff laptops during the 2026 summer break. The current MacBook Airs will be replaced with the new MacBook Neo model. At this time, we anticipate receiving the new laptops in late July or early August and will hope to have them ready for staff deployment by mid to late August.

When it gets closer to the deployment date, we will provide more information regarding the timing and process for swapping out your old laptop for your new one but the general outline is below.

Backup & Prep Your Old Laptop

  1. Clean out any "personal data" from your district device.
    • Now is a great time to make sure you don't have personal files and photos stored on your laptop. Getting rid of these files now (or moving them to another device) will speed up the backup and data transfer process.

  1. Back up your data:
    • If you store all of your data in the cloud using Google Drive or iCloud through your managed Apple ID, you're already done with this step...congratulations! Continue to the next bullet if you want to be "doubly" sure.
    • If you have files on your laptop that you need backed up, the easiest way is using the Backup & Restore Assistant in Self Service. You can find instructions on how to use this utility here. This utility will allow you to easily make a backup of all your important files and then easily drop them into place on your new laptop.
  1. Find your accessories
    • Make sure you have your charger block and charger cable. You will be using the same carry sleeve that you were given with your current laptop.
    • You don't need to bring any other accessories like a document camera or multi-port dongle (you can turn those in now if you aren't using them).
  1. Clean your laptop!
    • If you don't, we'll have to, so...
    • we will have cleaning supplies available at the swap point if you need them.

Make the swap

Due to the large number of devices that we need to deploy added to an already busy summer workload, we have several "swap days" scheduled. Please do not come to the IT Service Desk looking for a device outside of the times listed below.

If you are backing up and transferring your own data:

​If you don't need any help with data transfer (i.e. you hand us the old device, we hand you the new one) then you can come during any of the times listed below. We will have you do a few initial setup items on the new laptop so plan to spend 5 minutes or so with us before you go. Note that the first two days are during the Summer Tech Institute so feel free to hang out for a session or two while you're here!
    • Wednesday, August 12th from 8:30am to 3:30pm
    • Thursday, August 13th from 7:00am to 3:30pm
    • Friday, August 14th from 7:30am to 11:30am
    • Monday, August 17th from 7:30 am to 1:00pm
    • Tuesday, August 18th from 7:30am to 1:00pm
Please make every effort to utilize the times listed above. The last few weeks of summer and first few weeks of school are extremely busy for tech staff so availability at the Service Desk at MBC will be very limited outside of those times.
 
If you need help backing up and transferring your data:
 
If you need IT Staff to back up and transfer your data from your old laptop to the new one, you will need to drop off the old device with us so we can make the transfer. We anticipate needing to keep your device for at least a full day, likely longer. We can accept device drop offs anytime but won't get started on any data transfers until Tuesday, August 11th.
 
 

We know that being at school during the summer is no fun but, there will be a time, shortly after school starts, when any laptops that haven't been turned in will stop working. Each device that we have in service requires and MDM licenses and we only have a short window of time where we can maintain licensing on your new device and your old device so we need to make the swap soon after the new devices are ready.

Macbook Neo

Setting up your new Macbook Neo

Macbook Neo

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions, reach out. If we think others will benefit from knowing the answer, we'll include it here...even if it only gets asked once!

  1. "Is my laptop getting replaced?"
    • If you are currently issued a MacBook Air then most likely, you are.
  1. I'm an Ed Tech, am I getting a new device?
    • Maybe. There are a lot of moving pieces with device assignments this summer but we are hoping that when the dust settles, we will be able to issue Ed Techs newer iPads with more storage.
  1. Can I buy my old laptop?
    • No. Laptops will not be available for staff to purchase.
  1. I'm not available during the designated swap times, can I come in early?
    • No. We are not able to accommodate early pickup/swaps.
  1. I need tech staff to do the data swap for me but I can't leave my laptop.
    • It is strongly recommended that you use the resources provided here to do the data backup and transfer yourself. The process is fairly easy and will make the device swap much quicker and eliminate the need for you to be without a device for any period of time. If you still need assistance, you will have to leave the device as we are not able to do it while you wait.

iPad Collection

To request that an iPad be configured and assigned to you for use in your classroom, please complete the form below:

iPad Request Form icon

Tech will be collecting all teacher iPads at the end of the school year. There are several important updates that need to be done on the iPads and we need them on hand to do this.

When the school year begins in the fall, we will only be issuing iPads back to teachers who request them. Why, you ask. Great question—it's because...

  • If an iPad sits unused (an thus uncharged), the battery will quickly degrade and significantly reduce its overall capacity.
  • Unused iPads get put away in dark closets and cluttered desk drawers and that makes them sad. 😔
  • The district has to pay for an MDM license for every iPad that has been issued so collecting unused devices reduces costs. 💰

Don't fret, we will always have an iPad available for you if you realize you need it later on, whether it's for a day or to support a permanent change in your teaching style—and requesting one will be super easy (just ask for it!).

Important things to remember:

  • We only plan to issue iPads to teachers who request them so if you don't need one, you don't have to let us know.
  • Requesting an iPad can be done anytime and we'll get you one.
  • Regardless of when you request an iPad, you probably won't get the same one back so backup your data before you turn it in on June 12th.
  • We will have boxes in the main office of each school for you to turn in your iPad on the last day of school (June 12th).