LarryInFishers has a post about the recent struggle to get HSE21 delayed or cancelled for the Elementary level. A group of vocal parents have spoken out against giving iPads to 1st graders, and the post details a “first draft proposal” of a plan from the administration to only pilot the iPads in these early grades. K-2nd would have only two classrooms per school go 1:1, but 3rd-4th would roll out iPads as planned but at a lower cost to parents.
But your tax dollars cover the gap. This “pilot” would have a $600k price tag associated with it, money HSE doesn’t have unless they rob from other programs. In my opinion, it’s a disingenuous attempt at a smokescreen, to be ditched when the noise has died down, but only time will tell.
Or the administration could say, “Here’s our evidence that this is a good thing for you students.” But they don’t have that evidence; these children, pilot or otherwise, are an experiment.
Not mentioned in the article is the fact that this astronomical cost, to be borne by the corporation, is in fact borne many times over by the parents of all students in grades 5-8. I assure you, my net school costs after iPad and textbook/other fees have not dropped…