This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

District Hopes to Provide Some Students with Computers

A plan that would provide either laptop or tablet computers to secondary students was announced at the Saucon Valley School Board's Oct. 25 meeting.

At the Oct. 25 Saucon Valley School Board meeting, Assistant District Superintendent Carl Atkinson presented the board with a preliminary plan that would provide either laptop or tablet computers to secondary students.

"Our students need 21st century skills," Atkinson said. "They will be competing globally for jobs. (The plan) levels the playing field for those who don't have access to technology at home."

The plan, which is scheduled to begin implementation next year, would be instituted in phases. Next year, students in seventh grade would receive their own laptop or tablet computer. The year after that, sixth and seventh grade students would be provided with a laptop or tablet computer. The following year, all other secondary students would receive their device.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Atkinson said the money for student computers is already in the district's budget. He said if the district decides to provide laptops for students, additional funding would be needed during the third year of the plan to provide the necessary number of laptops. If the district instead decides to use tablet computers, no additional money will be necessary, because they are less expensive.

Additionally, Atkinson said the district may save money on paper, toner and textbooks through implementation of this plan.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

School board member Edward Inghrim questioned the need for the individual computers.

“According to Harrisburg, we are a very rich school district,” Inghrim said. “It seems unfair to buy an iPad for (a home) with a $200,000-a-year income. Asking a family to pay for an iPad for some fun doesn’t sit well with me.”

School board member Charles Bartolet also voiced concern about the cost of the laptop or tablet computers. He asked the administration to provide some cost figures specifying how much the plan would cost taxpayers at a future meeting.

Although she said she understood their concerns, school board member Lanita Lum said she disagreed.

“Taxpayers buy books and paper,” she said. “Technology is more and more important today. It is our responsibility to advocate and educate with the times. We need to keep the students up to speed. It is an aggressive market out there.”

“I appreciate technology, but when I was in school my parents had to go out and buy me a slide rule. There’s this developed sense of entitlement,” Inghrim said. “I firmly believe parents have the responsibility to buy their children the tools they need.”

Lum disagreed with Inghrim again.

“Technology is so important,” she said. “It needs to be part of the budget. Parents are paying a lot. It costs a lot of money to keep kids in school.”

School board member Michael Karabin voiced concerns about teachers using the computers. He said he is concerned about all of the teachers being trained to use the technology.

“If you can’t utilize it to the fullest, it’s worthless,” he said.

Atkinson assured him that the teachers will all be fully trained to use the computers, and said there are some who are already very familiar with the devices.

Atkinson explained that there are many more steps that need to be taken before the plan can be implemented, including forming a team of stakeholders, investigating programs and preparing for the phased implementation.

The district hasn’t yet decided on a platform to use or which type of computer to use.

Atkinson said he has been looking at other school districts--such as and Biglersville (Adams County)--that have instituted similar plans.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?