BREAKING NEWS: Wilmington Schools To Launch 4-Year Rollout Of A 1:1 Chromebook Program

WILMINGTON, MA – At Wednesday’s School Committee Meeting, the school district introduced its 4-year plan to roll out a 1:1 Google Chromebook program (1 Chromebook for every 1 student) at the Wilmington Middle School and Wilmington High School.

By the start of the 2019-2020 school year, every Wilmington student in Grades 6 through 12 will be required to bring a Google Chromebook to school.  Year #1 of the rollout begins this August, when incoming Grade 9 students (current Grade 8 students) will be expected to bring their own Chromebooks to WHS.  The district will begin notifying parents of the change soon, with “Parent Education Nights” to be scheduled in the late March and/or April.

Director of Technology Neal Ellis explained the timeline of the district’s rollout as followed:

• Year #1 (2016-2017): Grade 9 begins bringing Chromebooks
• Year #2 (2017-2018): Grades 8 and 9 begin bringing Chromebooks (Grades 8, 9 and 10 covered overall)
• Year #3 (2018-2019): Grades 7 and 8 begin bringing Chromebooks (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 covered overall)
• Year #4 (2019-2020): Grades 6 and 7 begin bringing Chromebooks (Grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 covered overall)

Google Chromebooks currently cost $200-$300.  The school district would help facilitate parents purchasing their children’s Chromebooks by creating a purchase page and linking it on the school district’s website.

Ellis was quick to point out FOUR measures of financial assistance the district will provide parents: (1) students on free and reduced lunch will receive their Chromebooks from the district for free; (2) students that nearly qualify for free and reduced lunch will receive a 50% reduction in the cost of their Chromebooks; (3) ANY student can apply for a scholarship to get the cost of their device partially or fully paid for; and (4) ANY student can apply for a payment schedule.  The district will work with families who have multiple children purchasing Chromebooks through the scholarship and payment schedule options.

Superintendent Mary DeLai noted that the launch of the 1:1 Chromebook program would have NO impact on next year’s school budget, as local businesses and the Wilmington School Business Partnership have already pledged to purchase Chromebooks for those students who can’t afford them.

Ellis chose Chromebooks over other electronic devices, like the iPad, because of their (1) affordability, (2) usability, (3) deployability, and (4) supportability.  Highlights from Ellis’s explanation include:

• While traditional laptops cost $700 to $1,000, a Chromebook costs $200-$300.
• A Chromebook does the things that students need and in age-appropriate way.
• A Chromebook includes an integrated keyboard which is better for writing and assessments.
• A Chromebook boots in seconds, leaving more time for instruction.
• A Chromebooks runs modern web-based tools, apps and services.
• Unlike a traditional Windows and Mac laptop, a Chromebooks does not need to be “imaged.” It takes virtually no money, time or labor to go from unboxking a Chromebook to putting it in a student’s hand.  Students may even be able to unbox the Chromebooks themselves.
• A Chromebooks automatically updates itself, both for security and new features.
• A Chromebook can be easily managed using online tools built into Google Apps.
• If there is ever an issue with a Chromebook, a replacement can be easily swapped out because the student’s data and content resides in their Google Apps account, not on the device itself.

Ellis also discussed some of the educational benefits to a 1:1 Chromebook program, noting educational use of the devices will: (1) promote collaboration, communication and content creation, (2) encourage responsibility and ownership, (3) facilitate blended learning activities, (4) allow for individual and collaborative activities, and (5) help develop a community of learners.

DeLai noted that during her entry plan process last year, lots of parents expressed support for a 1:1 program.

“Parents are saying we’re behind the times,” said DeLai. “This is a low-cost device that addresses a big need.”

Ellis stressed that Chromebooks have proven themselves to be successes in the school districts who were early adapters.  Ellis also noted that the Chromebook carts Wilmington currently offers are very popular among staff and students.

“If we don’t act beginning next school year, we will be behind our neighboring school districts,” cautioned Ellis.

The School Committee did not take a formal vote on the 1:1 plan as it was not required,  but members still expressed their support.  The Committee had laid the groundwork for the plan through its support of the FY17 budget and recent policy changes.

“I love this idea,” said member Kathleen Carroll.  “Wilmington is ready for this.  I’d rather see our students learning on Chromebooks than on their phones.”

“I feel much better [about the plan] after tonight,” said member Julie Broussard.  “It’s clearer to me now.”

“This was [the presentation] I’ve been looking for,” said Chairwoman Peggy Kane.  “[The plan] is very well put together.”

Kane said she supports the plan because all students would have the same type of device, as opposed to students being allowed to bring their own types of different devices.  Kane said she’s happy the committee has taken a “conservative” approach in the past, rather than rushing to adopt certain 1:1 plans that have struggled in other communities.

Kane emphasized that, in order for the 1:1 plan to be successful, (1) teachers must be provided with the necessary professional development and (2) parents must be educated about the plan.  Kane also suggested bringing in parents for focus groups to receive some early feedback.

Ellis agreed with Kane’s assessment.  Ellis explained that he is currently reviewing, researching and creating policies prior to implementing the plan.  He is (1) studying policies and procedures from other school districts, both locally and nationally; (2) working with the district’s legal counsel throughout the policy drafting policy; and (3) receiving input from the district’s Technology Committee.

Ellis provided answers to several questions, explaining that:

• Parents of current 8^th graders/incoming 9^th graders will be able to purchase Chromebooks online before the end of the school year.
• Students will be expected to take their Chromebooks back and forth between home and school.
• Chromebooks will have safe search software and in-house filters installed to keep students safe.
• Students will only use Chromebooks in class if the teacher permits it.
• If a student damages, breaks or loses a Chromebook, he or she will have to replace it, just like as if he or she lost a backpack with a textbook or two inside. The replacement cost for those items would approach that of a Chromebook.
• The district will encourage parents to buy insurance for the Chromebook.

Wilmington parents can expect to learn more about the plan from the school district in the coming weeks.

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