Apple is taking a “back to basics” approach to the education market, Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson said during a press conference following Apple’s quarterly financial announcement.
“We’re taking more and more of a solutions approach to education, which is how Apple originally succeeded in this market,” he said. “We’re going back to basics to regain leadership in education.”
Part of the solutions approach involves Apple’s acquisition of PowerSchool, a completely Web-based student information system that enables districts and schools to record, access, report and manage their student data and performance records in real-time. Parents, students, teachers and administrators use the system to share information about grades, attendance records, and homework assignments.
Last month Apple announced plans to buy the product and its parent company for US$62 million. Anderson said it would be an “all stock deal” and should be completed before the end of the month.
The CFO also said that during the September-October 2000 time frame, Apple brought in “two key personnel” to revitalize their education division. Cheryl Vedoe was hired as vice president of Education Marketing and Solutions. Jim Marshall was named as vice president of education sales.
During a question and answer session at the press conference, Anderson said that Apple had about 600 people in its education sales force. The fruit of Apple’s renewed focus on schools should be evident in the coming months. The big season for educational purchases starts this month and runs through September.