Amplus Academy
Minutes
Amplus Special Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday January 20, 2026 at 7:30 AM
The Governing Body of AMPLUS ACADEMY will conduct a Special board meeting open to the public on January 20, 2026 beginning at 7:30am. at the following location: google meet.
This public meeting will be conducted in accordance with Nevada’s Open Meeting Law, NRS 241.020.
This meeting may also include virtual attendees/participants.
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jfs-wexe-egf
Or dial: (US) +1 510-560-3582 PIN: 608 087 351#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/jfs-wexe-egf?pin=8573230546616
Please note the following:
Public comment will be limited to three minutes per person.
The Board reserves the right to take agenda items out of order and may combine two or more items. Items may also be removed or postponed by the board or combined for consideration.
The Board is pleased to make reasonable accommodations for any member of the public who has a disability and wishes to attend the meeting. If special arrangements for the meeting are necessary, please notify staff, in writing, at 8377 West Patrick Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89113; via email at mstjean@amplus.academy; or call 702-970-6800 x5022 in advance so arrangements can be made.
Directors Present
C. Farthing (remote), E. Elliott (remote), M. St. Jean (remote), N. Singh (remote)
Directors Absent
D. Price, R. Norland, S. Torrance
Guests Present
B. Batista (remote), R. Hulet (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Roll Call of the Board
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Public Comment Opportunity #1
A.
No Action may be taken on a matter raised under this item until the matter is included on an agenda as an item on which action may be taken. If attending remotely, please use the “raise hand” feature on Google Meet to be recognized by the board president. President Singh announced the opportunity for public comment however none were given.
III. Reading and approval of the minutes of the Board Meeting
A.
Reading and approval of the minutes of the Board Meeting on November 20, 2025. (For Discussion and possible action)
IV. New Business (Discussion and possible action)
A.
Review, Discuss, and possibly approve the Apple Inc. Education lease of Staff Devices for $60,873.45 per year for four years.
The board reviewed a proposal to lease Apple devices for staff members under the following terms:
Annual Cost: $60,873.45.
Duration: 4 years.
Total Savings: An educational discount secured through direct negotiation with Apple saved the school approximately $22,000 (roughly $100 off per laptop).
CEO Hulet explained that while the lease incurs about $3,600 in annual interest, it provides several budgetary advantages:
Budget Stability: Instead of a "balloon payment" of roughly $250,000 every 5–7 years (plus AppleCare and licensing), the lease spreads the cost into manageable annual payments.
End-of-Lease Options: After four years, the school can choose to purchase the devices (potentially for resale to staff), return them, or start a new lease with updated technology.
The following questions were asked by the Board Members:
How does the lease accommodate rapid staff growth? The lease is for a specific number of devices. However, older devices being replaced will be refurbished for "spares," substitutes, or testing. If more are needed, individual units can be purchased for around $1,000.
What happens to the old devices? Many are sold back to staff or third parties. The IT department projects recovering about $20,000 from the sale of current units.
Why stick with Apple exclusively? Sticking to one "ecosystem" simplifies IT support. Having a uniform model across the school allows for faster, more consistent fixes when technical issues arise.
Can old technology be used to help families in need? Yes. The school keeps a pool of older, functional devices (including Chromebooks) specifically for students and families struggling with technology access. They also offer them to other starting charter schools at a discount.
B.
Review, Discuss, and possibly approve IFS lease of Student Chromebooks of 161,813.15 per year for four years
The board reviewed a proposal to lease student Chromebooks with a focus on meeting the needs of secondary students while maintaining budgetary efficiency.
Annual Cost: $161,813.15
Duration: 4 years
Total Devices: 1,200 Chromebooks
Interest Rate: 0.26% (calculated as an annual interest expense of approximately $6,194)
Delivery Date: July 1, 2026 (deferred to the next fiscal year to avoid impacting the current budget)
The following questions were asked by the Board Members:
If there are 2,600 students, why are we only leasing 1,200 Chromebooks? These 1,200 units are primarily for secondary students, who use their devices more intensely and "run through" them faster. The Chromebooks currently used in elementary classrooms are in good condition and have a longer lifespan, so they do not yet require replacement.
Is the interest rate really 26%? No, the it was clarified that the lease rate factor was being misread. The actual interest rate is 0.26% ($0.0026$), resulting in a relatively low annual interest cost of $6,194.
Can we buy more if enrollment grows? Yes, though the $250 price point seen during the COVID-19 pandemic no longer exists. New individual units (including licensing and warranties) now cost closer to $400 each. However, the current lease plus existing viable units is expected to be "ample" for current and incoming students.
What happens to the old Chromebooks? Similar to the Apple devices, the school will offer older, functional Chromebooks for sale to families, staff members, and other charter schools.
V. Public Comment Opportunity #2
A.
No Action may be taken on a matter raised under this item until the matter is included on an agenda as an item on which action may be taken. If attending remotely, please use the “raise hand” feature on Google Meet to be recognized by the board president. President Singh announced the opportunity for public comment however none were given.
President Singh announced the opportunity for public comment however none were given.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
- 1a. AMPLUS_ACADEMY_1.12.26-_Apple_Cost_Breakdown.pdf
- 1a. Apple_Inc_4_Year.pdf
- 1. IFSxAmplusxTrafera_-_Device_Lifecycle_and_Leasing.pdf
President Singh announced the opportunity for public comment however none were given.