Overview
Soledad USD has always prioritized community access to technology. In 2020, they explored selling older devices directly to families at the school board’s direction. While well-intentioned, the district’s IT team quickly realized that managing individual sales alongside their regular responsibilities created operational challenges, and the age of the devices didn’t deliver the community experience they’d hoped for.

Solution
By 2025, Soledad USD took a more strategic approach to their technology refresh. Partnering with Second Life Mac, the district refreshed 4,000+ surplus devices through our buyback program while simultaneously offering their community access to quality refurbished Apple devices through a custom Second Life Mac Community Sale storefront. The district created an exclusive discount program for families, staff, and community members—but this time with professionally refurbished devices that delivered reliable performance.

Results
The results spoke for themselves. Soledad USD maximized the value of their device buyback to support future technology investments, while their community gained affordable access to quality Apple devices through a seamless, professionally managed storefront. The district’s IT team could focus on their core mission—supporting teaching and learning—while Second Life Mac handled the complexities of community sales. It’s a perfect example of how the right partnership creates value for everyone involved.