Richland schools exploring loaning out laptops to students

Richland students could soon be able to check out laptops and other technology to use at home as the Richland School District transitions to more digital resources.

District officials recently emailed 10,000 parents and guardians in the district to gauge their interest in having their kids check out Google Chromebooks that are being distributed to schools in the coming years. The survey also asked if families would need to check out wireless hotspots to access district resources in homes without an Internet connection. Hotspots are small devices that offer Wi-Fi Internet access.

The survey is to get a feel for what families want, said Mike Leseberg, Richland’s executive director of information technology. But as schools work toward having a computer for each student, it’s important that everything from digital textbooks to online lessons is available at home as well as in the classroom.

“We’re trying to figure out demand,” he said.

The district has worked toward further integrating technology into classrooms for the past few years. District staff are in the second year of a five-year plan to deploy 1,000 Google Chromebook laptops in schools each year, having spent about $775,000 on the program so far. Most of the devices are being distributed to high schools and middle schools, but some also are going to elementary schools.

About 900 people responded to the online survey. Seventy-two percent said they would be interested in their children being able to check out devices to use at home. Fifteen percent said they’d also be interested in checking out hotspots to use in conjunction with the devices.

The district has no current plan to begin checking out computers, Leseberg said, noting “this was just a cursory look.” But doing more coursework online means students will potentially need Internet access to complete assignments and collaborate with other students on projects.

The technology initiative has raised some concerns, especially from secondary teachers who have asked about how to ensure all students will have access, Leseberg said.

Ken Hays, president of the Richland Education Association, said teachers also need training and help getting all the new equipment integrated into the classrooms. He said the district appears more interested in upgrading technology than supporting and hiring quality teachers.

“A computer is a tool — just like a pencil or a ruler — and the district seems happier spending money on technology than teachers,” Hays said in an email to the Herald.

The district survey only went to families who have provided email addresses, potentially excluding low-income families without Internet access. But Leseberg said that needing to provide hotspots to families without online access shouldn’t be an issue or cost the district more money. An agreement with provider Clearwire guarantees the district a number of hotspots and data at no additional cost.

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Richland schools exploring loaning out laptops to students."