Duval Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says parents will be able to purchase laptops for their children from the district for $50 beginning next school year.
The district is working out the details of the recently-approved computer plan.
Vitti said students rely on computers for their school work — including math and reading programs “I-Ready” and “Achieve 3000” — but many don’t have them at home. And he says the district replaces school computers every three to five years even if they still work.
“We’ve had to move out a lot of our older computers and laptops and they’re fully functional,” he said. “They’ll be wiped out as far as memory, re-imaged and — in order to narrow the digital divide — we will be offering these laptops at $50.”
Schools spokeswoman Laureen Ricks said the district is still working out how the plan will be implemented, but recently 500 laptops have been sent to be cleaned, and all of those in good condition will be sold to students and teachers beginning this fall. Computers will come with an operating system upgrade and Office 2016. Teachers will also be able to purchase them, but they’ll pay $75.
Each month the number of available laptops will be announced and which high school will serve as a pick-up site. Laptops are limited to one student per year and offered on a first-come first-served basis.t Ricks added eligibility restrictions may be added once the program is put in place.
At a cost of $50 to students, the district will still make $35 after paying $15 to have the devices cleaned. The district previously made about $20 per computer selling them to be recycled.
Vitti said he envisions students assisting with the cleaning and refurbishing of computers in the future.
At a recent school board workshop, board member Becki Couch said she wanted to make sure schools kept their wireless Internet on all night. She said she heard students use their laptops in school parking lots for homework.
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