There are perks to being a senior.
Every member of the Class of 2016 from all three county high schools got their hands on a sleek new Apple MacBook Air laptop Thursday afternoon. The students converged on West Lowndes High School campus to receive their latest learning tool.
The MacBooks are part of the 1:1 technology initiative at LCSD, which was approved by the school board in February. Through the initiative, all of the approximately 5,000 students in LCSD will receive a personal technology device. Kindergarten through fourth grade students will receive iPads. Fifth graders through 12th graders will each get a MacBook Air. The deal also includes a protective case for the laptops and a backpack designed to hold them.
LCSD will pay $1.4 million annually to lease the equipment, which includes Apple Care insurance and tech support district-wide. Every three years, Apple will replace the iPads. The laptops will be replaced every four years.
On Thursday, the district passed approximately 700 MacBooks to seniors and some of their younger siblings. About 30 teachers and central office staff volunteered, donned in teal blue t-shirts reading “Meet Your Mac,” they shuffled students through six stations to get their equipment.
Students formed a line to get their registration card, watch a 15-minute video on the computers, pay the $25 technology fee, get their computer and accompanying backpack, and have their device setup.
Darius Gandy, a New Hope High School senior, was the first in line. He wanted to be in and out of the line, and also believes the MacBooks will streamline his learning experience.
“There’s going to be a lot less paperwork to keep track of,” Gandy said. “If you have to miss class or anything, you have the resources right there and can email in your work.”
In the midst of organized chaos inside the West Lowndes gymnasium, assistant superintendent Dr. Robin Ballard breathed a sign of relief.
“This is two years of work coming together,” she said.
West Lowndes principal Cynthia McMath said the district would be back at her school Saturday, when it will hand out equipment to non-seniors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By the end of the weekend, around 3,000 LCSD students will have their own MacBook Air.
“We are just very happy about this transition in education,” McMath said. “It is a great transition.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
