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Technology poses bigger challenge at Crestview this year

NEW WATERFORD — Starting the year with many students back in the building and some at home proves to be a challenge from a technology standpoint at Crestview.

In the past, technology director Daryl Miller said they always collected the laptops and Chromebooks at the end of the school year so they could retool them, update them and return them to students around the start of school. However, this year was different.

Because students needed their laptops or Chromebooks at home to do remote learning after the schools closed due to the coronavirus in March, they were not collected when summer arrived. Usually, the technology staff sees a few help tickets, which are for in-house repairs or technology questions at the beginning of the school year, but this year Miller said they started the year with 290 help tickets.

In addition to the help tickets for devices at the school, Miller said the school is fielding questions by telephone for those students learning at home whose parents or grandparents are having problems connecting or other computer questions.

The school is also finding itself somewhat short on devices. Miller said the school had about 100 new laptops remaining from a group purchased a year ago, so new ones were not purchased coming into the year. They had anticipated they may need a few this year and turn around is usually fast. However, technology companies are behind in making them in part because the companies that manufacture the parts and computers closed during the beginning of the pandemic as well.

Miller said he they are attempting to obtain more computers, but without paying more than twice the normal price from unscrupulous providers the new computers and devices will not arrive until October.

Currently, those who have computers available at home who are also learning remotely are being asked to use them there. Those students whose parents are fine with them bringing their device to school can also do so.

Superintendent Matthew Manley said enough students have computers or devices at home that if the school needs to go back to remote learning only there will be enough for everyone. However, its harder right now to make sure all the students who need to have one available at school have one.

Last spring when everyone had a device, Crestview students had about 550 Chromebooks and 330 laptop PCs. Additionally, the teachers had 84 laptops and 60 desktops.

Overall, it was reported at Wednesday’s meeting that the start of school went well. The school buses are still adding students who are now requesting transportation. Buses, classrooms and the cafeteria are all being cleaned between use.

Additionally, all the students at Crestview have qualified for free breakfasts and lunches this year. Even the students who are learning from home can receive the free meals, which will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays to be picked up from the school starting next week from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Because all the students are learning remotely this Friday, meals for Friday can be picked up by everyone from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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