By Rumasa Noor
Staff writer
The Union Grove Elementary School board approved the purchase of 125 Chromebooks for $39,000 at the meeting on July 20.
The school provided students with Chromebooks for the first time last year, said District Administrator Brenda Stevenson.
Several schools throughout the area have been providing students with electronic devices such as iPads and Chromebooks. Many schools prefer Chromebooks over iPads as they offer an inexpensive option.
Stevenson said the school explored different options before choosing Chromebooks for their students.
However, since the electronics are leased by the school district, any damage to them has to be covered at the expense of the parents, according to Principal Tom Johnson.
The school received 13 Chromebooks from students that were damaged in 2014-15, and six parents have not paid for the damages yet, according to Chris McBryde, Technology Coordinator.
Johnson said many parents fail to realize that the school doesn’t own the Chromebooks. They are leased and need to be returned in their original condition.
“There were some parents that were upset with the damage cost, they didn’t want to pay, they didn’t understand that it’s leased,” said Johnson.
Johnson is going to modify the agreement to make it clearer that the school does not cover the damage cost, and in case of any physical damage to the Chromebooks, parents will be held responsible for the cost.
The school charges sixth graders with a $50 technology fee, including a $20 fee for the bag in which Chromebooks are kept. Seventh graders only have to pay $30 because they get to keep the bag from previous year, Stevenson said.
For the incoming year, sixth graders will be provided with Samsung Chromebooks, while seventh graders will keep their HP Chromebooks.
Other business
Principal Tom Johnson reported that there were five instances of seclusion and restraint in the previous school year – two in February and three in March –involving a Special Education student.
In each instance, the school evacuated students outside the classroom.
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