WESTBROOK – The Maine Learning Technology Initiative made Maine the first state with a plan to put laptop computers into the hands of all students in grades 7 and up.
What school districts in the area are learning is that holding kids responsible for an expensive electronic device is not always a good idea.
In districts like Westbrook, students are allowed to bring their laptops to and from school. They are carried around like a textbook, often receiving the same treatment, getting tossed around, dropped or spilled on.
Jeff Mao, the state’s learning technology policy director, said a warranty and a buffer pool cover the state-provided laptops. The buffer pool provides a limited number of replacements per district for certain types of damage.
“It’s not an endless well of computers,” Mao said.
The buffer pool has been instrumental for local districts, but is too small for Westbrook, which used up all its buffers last year, according to technology director Tyler Dunphy. He said Westbrook is repairing all its damages locally this year because it has no buffers available.
“While at this point statistically there are less breaks than last year, we have higher costs,” he said.
To make matters worse, Dunphy said, the majority of damages to the district’s laptops are tied to the LCD screen, which is not covered under warranty.
Troubling problem
The school district has roughly 1,200 laptops for students in grades 7 and up through the state learning initiative, Dunphy said.
At the middle school, where the program has been ongoing for eight years, a majority of students has opted into a voluntary protection program that provides insurance in case of damages. However, at the high school, which is in its second year of the program, 371 chose to enroll in the protection program this year and 325 did not, Dunphy said.
It is a given that, with students carrying the computers between classes and to and from home daily, some damages are inevitable. The money collected through the protection plan is intended to take care of damages for those who bought protection, Dunphy said. The district, though, only leased the laptops and must return them to the state when the lease period ends in another year and a half.
“The school department is responsible for ensuring they are in working condition,” he said.
The ultimate responsibility, then, lies with the district. The administration is finding that collecting hundreds of dollars for damages from parents who opted against the protection is not an easy task.
“There’s parents who can’t pay and we have to deal with that,” said Dr. Reza Namin, district superintendent.
While Namin points to the difficulty of collecting for repairs when 52 percent of the district’s students are on free or reduced lunch programs, School Committee Chairman Ed Symbol said an additional problem is that for some, opting against the protection plan was not an economic decision. He suggested one solution is to collect protection plan money from everyone, while making allowances for those facing hardships.
The district’s plan already offers different rates. It normally costs $40, but reduced lunch families may buy in for $30, and the cost is lowered to $20 for free lunch students.
Sue Joyce, a member of the school committee, said she has heard over the years that many families do not agree with allowing students to bring their computers home. Many homes, she said, already have a PC or laptop a child has access to. She said it might make sense to limit which students are allowed to bring computers home.
“So many parents don’t like the program,” she said. “I’ve been hearing complaints year after year.”
The administration has spent more than a month researching potential solutions to this problem. During that time, there were 31 damaged computers not being sent out for repairs, Dunphy said. The district has some spares, but not enough to cover the difference and 15 students were without laptops, sometimes for weeks. Of those, Dunphy said, three were students who opted into the protection plan.
The school committee found no solution to the problem at its Jan. 19 meeting, but did mandate that the computers of students with the protection plan should be fixed right away.
“We owe it to people who paid into the fund to fix their computer and give it back to them,” said school committee member Greg Smith.
According to Dunphy, the computers were sent out for repairs the next day.
Seeking answers
On Jan. 19, the committee discussed, but ultimately opted against, spending roughly $11,000 to insure all computers for the rest of the school year. Some members were not pleased that funds collected through the optional protection plan would be used to buy insurance for everyone.
“That just doesn’t sound right to me,” said Symbol.
Namin also recommended against buying insurance, saying they should stick with a policy adopted in 2007 that established the current system.
“If you didn’t (purchase protection) you’re accountable for it and you’ve got to maintain that accountability,” he said.
Joyce said it is clear the current policy is not working, but added, “It’s really hard to go into something midterm. I don’t think it’s beneficial. It doesn’t make sense.”
“This is something we really need to discuss in more detail before the beginning of next year,” added committee member Jim Violette.
In Gorham, the district has the same policy as Westbrook, according to Dennis Crowe, director of technology. While in theory, the district would bill families not in the protection plan for damages, “getting it is a challenge.”
Gorham, like Westbrook, is prepared to withhold diplomas for those who don’t pay the bill, he said. However, that solution is years away for some students.
Also like Westbrook, Gorham has some issues with how the state rolled out the program. Crowe said one problem is that, starting in October, the state sent out a memo saying it would no longer cover laptops damaged by liquid spills.
“Heaven forbid they tell us what they’re going to do,” he said.
In Westbrook, Symbol said, the state was unhelpful from the beginning. He said the state would have taken technology money from the district if it did not accept the computers and provided no plans for implementing laptops or ideas for handling repairs.
“The problem goes way back to when the program was implemented,” he said.
However, Andrew Wallace, director of technology in South Portland, pointed out that “Maine’s a local control state” and each district can handle the problem as it sees fit. He said the computers are important tools that extend the school day to the home.
“I don’t feel like the state put us out to dry,” he said.
Insurance for all?
The Windham and Raymond school district is one that purchases commercial insurance at a rate of $39,000 annually to cover 3,050 devices in the district, said technology director Robert Hickey.
Hickey said the coverage benefits the district because it shifts liability onto the insurance provider. They no longer have to worry about payment, deductibles, or how to handle screen and spill issues not covered by the warranty or the state buffer.
“We want to be efficient as a school district,” he said. “From the district’s perspective, it’s about a push, a break even.”
Mao said the state does not recommend purchasing commercial insurance because the insurance tends to be more costly than just paying for damages out of the budget.
According to Mao, middle schools are more adept at caring for the computers because the program has been ongoing for so long. High schools are still going through “growing pains,” and the state anticipates a reduction in damages as schools grow more accustomed to the technology, he said.
“It is still a puzzle to be solved at the local level,” he said. “Right now, we feel like things are going reasonably well.”
In Mao’s eyes, the program is too important to ditch over the cost of repairs.
“I just can’t imagine how we could prepare our kids for the modern workforce in the 21st century without having technology all around us,” he said.
LugNut posted at 11:19 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
I agree with dneilsenjr ... and not just because he agreed with me on the iPads. The schools (and it's not just Westbrook) don't use the laptops nearly enough. Few classes seem to use them, and when they do, it's as a glorified typewriter -- kids type their papers, then print them out and hand them in. They should at least be emailing them. And the cost savings from ebook textbooks could be significant; paper savings might be minimal, but it's something.
I also have to agree with disgusted that returning to desktop computers (instead of laptops or tablets) would save a lot of money, because stationary computers don't get damaged nearly as easily. However ... the technology isn't nearly as accessible to the children then, either -- especially those who don't already have computers at home because their families can't afford them. That would leave those families at a significant disadvantage. (The classic struggle between the "haves" and the "have nots".)
As for the Windows vs Mac questions raised by disgusted, that's basically a philosophical debate these days. And a pointless one at that. First, not all businesses run on Windows ... and in the future, fewer will. They probably won't be running on Macs, either. The trend is toward applications that are delivered through web browsers or through small, cross-platform (Mac or PC) apps that access data off remote servers. Google is a shining example of this: you can use free Google services for word processing, spreadsheets, email and more. In fact, many municipalities across the country are doing exactly that, to cut costs in school systems and city offices. And the "computer" you use to access those services is almost irrelevant.
That said, having been an IT administrator for more than 20 years and attained several fancy certifications from Microsoft, I can quite honestly say that the myth that Macs are so much more expensive is just a myth ... or, at best, a misunderstanding of the total cost of ownership:
True, Windows-based PCs have a lower initial purchase cost. But that's only a small portion of the total cost of owning any computer. Maintenance and support costs are significantly higher on Windows PCs.
Maintenance costs are higher for Windows PCs because that low purchase price is achieved by constructing them with lowest-cost components. Not surprisingly, those lowest-cost PC components -- displays, hard drives, ethernet or USB ports, logic boards and memory -- have higher failure rates than the components used by in pricier models like Apple's MacBooks (which are, essentially, the same Intel-powered hardware designs as PCs ... in fact, Macs can even run Windows because of it). Apple isn't the only one putting "the good stuff" in it's machines: HP, Dell, Sony and others do, too, it's just that the models with the top-quality components cost just as much as or more than a comparable MacBook. Obviously, when the low-cost components fail, they have to be fixed (if they even can be -- some low-cost PC designs don't allow for certain replacements), which entails expensive parts+labor charges for installation then tech support time to restore the system and reload all the various "drivers" to make things work again.
In terms of support costs, because there are so few variations of the Mac hardware, the software and hardware are designed to work together better, with fewer problems, which has given Macs the well-deserved reputation that they "just work." This isn't a fallacy. It's just the law of odds: It's easier for Apple to focus on a dozen designs than it is for Microsoft to make Windows work with several thousand. It's impossible for Microsoft to code and test for every possible configuration. So PCs invariably require more support to fix non-functioning sound cards or video issues or network hiccups that mysteriously plague PCs.
Support costs are further minimized with Macs, because they're immune from all known viruses and worms. According to Symantec (makers of Norton Anti-Virus), there are more than 75,000 virus, worm and other malware threats against Windows PCs. There are, to date, still no (zero) known viruses in the wild that successfully compromise Mac OS X. There aren't any that attack iPads, iPhones or iPod Touches, either.
It's also worth noting that MacBooks ship with fully-functional productivity software for word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, databases, and drawing/painting for free, so that the machines are instantly usable and useful. Windows PCs, on the other hand, typically ship with only crippled trial versions which require additional cost to unlock the software and make it fully functional. (There are free "office" packages available by download for both platforms: NeoOffice for the Mac and OpenOffice for the PC.)
As for my comment about wireless ... obviously, not everyone has wireless internet service at home. And while there's a good chance that you might be able to hitch a free ride on a nearby neighbor's unlocked wifi, that's not a guarantee and it's not really appropriate, unless they grant permission. But iPads can be used without wireless service until they are in-range of wireless, so users could write papers, read e-textbooks and even create presentations on them ... then submit them when they do have a network connection (at school, or at a public wifi hot-spot like those hosted by many local businesses).
In any event, no matter what computers the kids get to use today, it likely won't be the same one they'll use years later in "the real world." And it's far better for them to have access to some technology -- Mac, Windows, iPad or whatever -- than not. But it would be really nice to see the schools take better advantage of the technology that they've got to work with ... for more than just a fancy typewriter.
disgusted posted at 8:11 am on Fri, Jan 28, 2011.
I am still trying to figure out why the people who were in charge of making the decision to have the Macbooks apart of the Westbrook School Department didn't see this coming before hand. If 52% of the parents can't or don't choose to provide food for their kids then why does anyone expect them pay for any damages that may take place? The Macbooks have been apart of the Middle School children for a few years now, they have had problems collecting money for damages to the Macbooks ever since. If 52% of parents can't or do choose to provide food for their kids what makes people assume that they have access to a wirelss internet at home in order to be online?
Ask yourself this. Why does the Westbrook School Department have the children from Kindergarten thru 5th grade using Windows computers, and than from 7th grade thru 12th grade they have them using Mac computers than, after they graduate and move on to the real world they are back to using Windows computers? That just doesn't make any sense to me.
Some of you have suggested to with iPads. As you will see below I am suggesting to go with Windows laptops. The bottom line is, to a point it doesn't matter what they go with but, how they are going to cover the cost of the damages that may take place.
Possible solution #1. Go back to desktop computers
Possible solution #2. Purchase Widows laptops that are much more durable and half the cost of Macbooks.
Possible solution #3. Make everyone pay the same protection fee. The protection fee has to be paid in full in order to be able to take the laptop home. If you can't afford to pay the protection fee up front than set up a payment plan. Until the protection plan is paid in full the student isn't allowed to take the laptop home with them.
The bottom line is this. You break it you pay for it. Not the tax payers. Until ALL of the teachers jump on board and implement technology to the fullest it really doesn't matter what the kids are using.
Ricky09 posted at 4:19 pm on Thu, Jan 27, 2011.
I know lets blame the ex governor KING he was the one that pushed this mess in schools and by the way students are still not learning like they should,we have just made our kids mentally LAZY...True stranger than fiction...
dnielsenjr posted at 11:13 am on Thu, Jan 27, 2011.
I agree with Lugnut, to a point, yes I feel as though the state should switch over to the inexpensive ipads as well. But here's the problem and this is where i get the most angry at Westbrook Schools. There crying about the cost of repairs for the 1000 some odd laptops that they have in there system, and I can understand that completely its expensive (no -brainer there). I would be more understandable to there needs if they would actually use the laptops to there potential (which there not), meaning they could download textbooks on them, almost taking the cost of new textbooks every year out of the school budget. Make the teachers put assignments and worksheets on the computer so the students don't have to worry about keeping an organized notebook in paper form, again taking the extra cost of paper use out of the school budget,and as far as homework is concerned, why can't the students do all there homework on the laptops and e-mail that homework to the teachers, that would do away with missing homework or the old excuse (my dog ate my homework). There is 2 ways to save money for the school budget right there in order to pay for laptop repair. Another thing is make the teachers use the technology in all classes that what its there for so lets use it. Bottom line here is simple and if it actually happens then yes I would agree to paying a deposit on the laptops, but till these teachers and the school board change there ways of using these expensive pieces of technology, I say "You snooze you lose". The City of Westbrook School Board and the teachers need to wake up and take a look around them, were not in the chalk and slate, pencil and paper world anymore.. Lets get on the technology bandwagon and make this City the best city in Maine and the US.
fpudebt posted at 11:05 am on Thu, Jan 27, 2011.
From Westbrook with a broken computer
HUGE Issue.... I paid for insurance... I (not the student) had it fall about a foot to the floor and the screen cracked.... She just got a replacement BUT it has been OVER a month if not two. And to make things even more difficult it was a little crack and we had no issue with her using it the way it was.... A teacher saw it and made her bring it in to get fixed... Go back to books!!!
LugNut posted at 9:42 am on Thu, Jan 27, 2011.
One suggestion: Have families put down a deposit. If they instruct their kids to be especially careful with the laptops (i.e., "don't break it!") and the kids don't break it, they get their deposit back at the end of the school year. Giving lower income families a break seems appropriate and fair, but everyone still needs to pay ... or the state needs to find a way to subsidize the insurance for the low-income families (or everyone).
Second suggestion: Get rid of the laptops and go with less expensive and more-durable iPads, which have no moving parts yet can do all the same sorts of things the kids need. The state could buy them in quantity very inexpensively (far less than retail) and, if equipped with an inexpensive but heavy-duty protective case, damage should be minimal, repairs would be less expensive, and replacement would be a reasonable option. They might even recover some of the costs by switching to less expensive e-books that could be read on the iPads more naturally than on a laptop.
A non-option: Dropping the program. The kids NEED easy access to technology, or they'll be at a severe disadvantage when they graduate and go on to college or enter the job market.
Theodore Nugent posted at 8:16 am on Thu, Jan 27, 2011.
"What school districts in the area are learning is that holding kids responsible for an expensive electronic device is not always a good idea."...........(REALLY? No kidding! Who possibly could have imagined that? I know a few adults that are not responsible either. )
“If you didn’t (purchase protection) you’re accountable for it and you’ve got to maintain that accountability,” he said..........(no different than any other non insured accident like auto or homeowners. You either insure or your pay out of pocket. Thats the way it is. No handouts.)