Hello to all Students in Grades 6-12 and Parents,
This email is to inform you of a shift in how we have issued chromebooks to our secondary students. Since the begining of the era where the school provides a chromebook to every student, we have never had an issue with students intentionally destroying the chromebooks. Students have shown respect toward the expensive equipment they have been issued, and in large part, have been trusted to use them appropriately.
In the last week we had one chromebook destroyed to the point that it did catch on fire; and on Friday afternoon another chromebook was discovered having been intentionally placed and arranged so that it would be destroyed, and upon being destroyed, it would have caught fire. Fortunately, it was discovered before anything happened. These are significant issues.
At the start of every school year, as part of our registration process, parents and students sign our technology policy related to the issuing of chromebooks and student responsibilities related to the chromebooks. Students are not issued a chromebook if this signed policy is not on file. Stated in that policy is that any damage to a chromebook is the responsiblity of the student to repay in addition to discipline for the destruction of property. This means that if a chromebook is intentionally destroyed by stabbing it so it is broken, catches fire, and is unusable, the student who was issued that chromebook will be responsible for that damage, meaning they will owe the school a new chromebook. Additionally, the student who that chromebook was issued to will have disciplinary consequences for destruction of property and other potential safety hazards related to their actions. It is understood that the student who destroyed the chromebook may not have been the one who it was issued to. In that case, it is highly likely someone saw who made the destruction happen, and as with all other unusual incidents, if students see something odd, like a chromebook being destroyed, or hear something about it, they need to say something to a staff member.
This policy also applies to chromebooks being lost or misplaced. The student who lost the chromebook is responsible for purchasing a new chromebook before they will be issued a new one.
On Monday, every secondary student's chromebook will be inventoried. We have numerous methods of monitoring which chromebook is issued to which student, and each of those methods will be used. From this point on, each student will need to keep watch over their chromebook, ensure that it is not taken, and ensure that it is cared for. If their chromebook is taken by someone else and they do not report it, whatever happens to and with that chromebook is the responsibility of the student it was issued to. If a student's chromebook is no longer working property, they need to report it, otherwise it becomes their responsiblity to replace or repair if it is turned in damaged.
Students will no longer be allowed to simply come to the office to get a new chromebook if theirs stops working or if they forget it. There will be a process to issue a new chromebook to students whose chromebooks stop working due to normal wear and tear; if they stop working due to misuse or mistreatment, again, the student will pay for a new chromebook before one is issued. Additionally, any extra chromebooks that are in classrooms will be removed and stored in a secure location. The only chromebooks that will be in classrooms and with students will be those that are officially checked out to a student.
Please discuss the importance of caring for this expensive equipment and the responsibilities and potential consequences involved. Also please understand the importance of if anyone sees something and/or hears something, they need to say something.
Thank you.
Dr. D