FAQs
Why did we go 1:1?
Currently we have about 70 classes taking place per hour in our school district with six computer labs available for those classes to use. By going 1:1 we give all students the opportunity to use technology throughout their classes simultaneously. This 1:1 program is designed to give our students greater access to technology and get them career and college ready.
Will the Chromebooks stay at school each night?
No. All students grades 6-12 will have the ability to take it home every day.
How long will my student get to keep their Chromebook?
Each student entering 6th and 9th grade will get a new device. That means that 6th graders will have their device until the end of 8th grade and will turn them in at the end of the year. They will then receive a new device in 9th grade and keep it until the end of 12th grade.
Can I buy the Chromebook(s) my child(ren) will be using outright?
No. The student's Chromebook is then not owned by the school district in this case and issues will be run into with maintenance which will affect state testing (which is performed on Chromebooks). Insurance would also not be able to be taken out on the device.
What will happen to the Chromebooks taken out of rotation?
A majority of them will go to be used at our elementary school.
Will there be help available during school hours if my child has an issue with their Chromebook?
Yes. A help desk is available in the Middle School Media Center.
What if we can’t afford the insurance?
If you wish to take out insurance but cannot afford the full price, please contact the secondary school principal.
Do I have to get the insurance?
No, but the replacement cost is around $250.
What does the insurance cover exactly?
Any accidental or mechanical issues.
Can I purchase the insurance during the school year?
No. Insurance will only be able to be purchased during the time period set forth from the technology department (typically the end of the school year through the day of device distribution). If you enroll your child into the school district during the school year, you will have one week to purchase the insurance if you so choose to do so.
What if my child already has their own device?
Students always can bring their own, however our staff will be trained on the Chromebooks so the student has to know how to operate their own device. There will also be no technology support provided to students that use their own devices.
Can my child(ren) print from the Chromebook?
No. If a student needs to print something, they can email what they need to print to themselves or put it on their Google Drive and then log in to a computer in the Innovation Center or Student Center to print there.
Do we have the bandwidth necessary?
Yes. Our internal network backbone is at least 10GB/s throughout the district. We also have an Internet bandwidth of 3 gigabits per second to ensure all academic tools being used have the speed they need.
Will the devices be filtered?
Yes, everything on the Chromebook is filtered to CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) standards.
What if I don’t have Internet at home?
Nearly all of the material can be accessed offline. The student downloads the file at school before the end of the day and is able to use it in the same way as being online. Chromebooks also sync Google Drive files so anything in a student's Google Drive is available offline. Common areas at the secondary building are also covered by our wireless that can be accessed after school releases. There are also free Wi-Fi hotspots available around the city.
Would they keep them over summer?
Yes, It is too costly for us to collect them at the end of each year and pass them back out in the fall. We also have classes that operate in the summer so keeping it consistent with all students is best. More information can be found here in regards to summer break.
How will they get charged?
Students will be required to come to school each day with the device fully charged. Chargers will not be encouraged at school as they get lost and left behind too frequently and spare chargers are around $50. The battery life will easily make it through a school day.
Theft Issues
All Chromebooks have an administrative function called "brick mode" which completely locks a device until we unlock it again. If a Chromebook goes missing, students will report it to us and we will put it in "brick mode" until we recover the device. This nearly eliminates all issues with theft because the device is no longer worth anything and is rendered useless. There is also less chance of theft as each student has the same device.
What Chromebook model do the students have?
Students in grades 6-7th, 9-10th have HP Chromebook 11 G8 Education Editions and students in grades 8th, and 11th-12th have HP Chromebook 11 G6 Education Editions.
If I want my student to use a personal device instead of a school provided device, what kind of of system requirements should I be purchasing for?
As a majority of online work in classrooms is performed with Google, the Google Chrome browser is widely used. Any device that can run the Chrome Web Browser (Chromebooks, MacBooks and Windows laptops) will work. Tablets are not recommended as they may become difficult to use for what they are needed for. Make sure the device you purchase has at least 4GB of RAM and 16GB of storage if it is a Chromebook and at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage if it is a MacBook or Windows laptop. It is also highly recommended that is has a Wireless-AX compatible wireless card to take full advantage of our wireless network.
Will my student be able to connect their personal device to the wireless?
Yes. There are instructions provided to do so on this website for students in grades 9-12. If a middle school student needs to connect their device, please have them see the assistant in the Middle School Media Center.