Hempfield Area School District looks to add hundreds of Chromebooks; repair costs drop

Laptop repairs are down this 12 months in the Hempfield Space Faculty District.

That is a drastic alter from previous university year, when officials shelled out hundreds of pounds to take care of scores of transportable desktops.

Between the begin of the university yr and Feb. 18, the district paid out virtually $24,000 to repair service harm to 200 Chromebooks, said Dave Vilchek, director of technology. Through the 2020-21 faculty yr, all-around $107,800 was paid out to fix far more than 4,000 computers. That year, pupils mainly completed remote discovering for the reason that of the covid-19 pandemic.

There had been 1,322 repairs built through the 2018-19 college yr, costing $39,428, while in 2019-20, 1,476 repairs totaled $50,659.

“We heard a ton about the harm that was transpiring to Chromebooks and we ended up giving issues on how to make some improvements,” mentioned Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. Adjustments that were put into position bundled necessitating learners in grades 3-12 who requested a district-issued Chromebook to pay out for an insurance policy.

The annual, non-refundable coverage costs $25 for a solitary student, $40 for two college students and $60 for 3 or extra college students. The charge addresses unintentional and non-negligent problems.

According to Vilchek, $69,345 was collected by the district in insurance expenses this calendar year. Right after deducting the cost of repairs to date, $45,599 stays.

“Typically, the conclusion of the college yr involves quite a few repairs when equipment are returned,” she explained. “Any remaining funds will be employed to protected areas to prepare the equipment for the upcoming school 12 months.”

The school board has approved the business enterprise workplace to search for proposals for Chromebooks for the 2022-23 school calendar year. The district designs to get 900 desktops that will be element of a new gadget cycle exactly where a student will use the very same laptop computer in grades 3-7 and then a further in grades 8-12.

American Rescue Program resources will be tapped for the $214,200 laptop or computer acquire.

For 2022-23, Vilchek also recommended trying to keep insurance coverage fees at their existing rate.

District leaders additionally prepare to use American Rescue Program funds to acquire 900 units each and every for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 university yrs as perfectly as 1,200 touchscreen devices in the latter calendar year for students in grades K-2.

“We’re searching at over $1 million more dollars to be expended for the supplemental gadgets over the subsequent a few several years,” Wolicki claimed. “We’re incredibly lucky to have the grant funds to be capable to use to protect these equipment, to at least get us by way of 2024.”