Rochester Public Schools' iPad Project in limbo - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- The Rochester Public School District's plan to buy thousands of iPads for students over the next few years has hit a major roadblock.

The State Education Commissioner has ruled that state technology money cannot be used for the project, so the initiative is stalled for now. 

School board member Gary Smith says he gets more and more frustrated with state officials and federal officials interfering with what's being attempted on the local level.  Administrators and the school board were planning to use the infusion of iPads to fight the "achievement gap" among certain groups of students having trouble learning.

After Rochester school officials found a way to invest in the tablets without raising taxes, Smith said a new objection was raised at the State Education Department over using tablets.

"My sense is that it got wrapped up in politics," said Smith, who also serves as the head of Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc.

The district has been trying to invest in 6,750 iPads for students over the next three years.  Now, apparently, it's back to the drawing board.

There's no school Wednesday in Rochester with staff and teachers busy with development meetings.