iPads for every K-12 school student in El Paso County.

That’s the vision of David Neumann, CEO of Neumann Systems Group.

And he believes it will improve the local economy.

He provided iPads for four first grade classrooms in Lewis-Palmer School District 38 in a pilot program that is helping kids learn faster and better.

“We hope to be a catalyst for an education revolution in El Paso County,” he said.

But help the economy? How would that work?

The fledgling project, spearheaded by Neumann Education Foundation, will be a collaborative effort between educators and businesses in the Pikes Peak region.

The idea, he explained, is to help make local schools world class models for using technology in the classrooms, which in turn will attract high tech workers and others who want the best education for their kids.

Initially, the foundation’s goal is to raise $15 million with business and corporate help to place 51,000 iPads in elementary schools. That would mean one iPad for every four students.

Through United Way, the Neumann Education Foundation donated $30,000 in November to put the iPads in the four first grade classrooms at Bear Creek Elementary School in D-38. It also purchased smart boards and updated the wireless network for the school. The county-wide iPad project would provide money to expand into middle schools and high schools, as well as pay for instructional programs, teacher training, scholarships and technology updates through contributions and grants.

The foundation will have projects in Colorado Springs School District 11, starting with Bates Elementary in September, and soon at Harrison School District 2.

While the program initially is providing one iPad for every four kids, the foundation eventually wants to one to go to every student.

While iPad immersion programs are happening in individual schools — mostly middle and high schools — Neumann believes this program is unique. “We don’t know of anyone across the U.S. who is targeting all elementary schools to this extent.”

The program is particularly timely. The Colorado Department of Education is emphasizing 21st Century Learning, that is, graduating students who are college and career ready. Much of that revolves around literacy and STEM education — science, technology engineering and math.

Youngsters quickly take to iPads in classrooms

But there have been severe state budget cuts to education for several years, and districts often have had to put off buying technology or updating what they have.

Neumann knows the worth of STEM education in business. Neumann Systems Group creates innovative emission control systems for power plants, including Colorado Springs Utilities.

The iPad effort dovetails with the economic vision for Colorado Springs as proposed by Mayor Steve Bach and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and EDC to attract companies and jobs.

“Our hope is that something radically new like this will help do it.” Neumann says.

Doug Quimby, chairman of Colorado Chamber and EDC, says “It seems like a good idea. It is not terribly expensive and has potential.”

He said that the most important issue for future of economic development prosperity in the region is whether there is a properly educated and trained workforce, particularly for technical jobs.

“That requires general improvements in education. Our schools aren’t performing as well as they should,” he said.

iPads with the right applications can provide good literacy training in the classroom, said County Commissioner Peggy Littleton, who is on the board of the Neumann Education Foundation. A former state education board member, she said the literacy education component is the key to doing well in STEM subjects. A child must be able to read by third grade to do well in other subjects.

She emphasized that any programs will be vetted to ensure they are aligned with the state’s model content standards. “We want the iPads to enhance education and not hinder. There’s a lot of bad stuff out there.” She added that the right applications could also “overcome some of the poor teaching that exists out there. But the wrong applications could undo what good teachers are trained to do.”

Littleton said iPads in the classroom are a good alternative to computers, which take up a lot of space and cost a lot of money.

Neumann got the idea for the classroom iPads from his daughter Nicole Myers, who purchased them for his four grandkids.

“The kids were using iPad aps that were geared to math and reading and enjoying every minute of it. The games were reinforcing skills over and over. I got really excited about this.”

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