Students will not be returning to the classroom until May 4, or until further discussion, according to Gov. Gregg Abbott’s latest order.
As school districts prepare for the long haul, the Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch spoke to Hays County school districts to gauge what students will need to get them through online lessons.
The first dilemma facing Hays County students is internet access. According to Broad Band Now, at least 95 percent of the county has internet access, but that doesn’t mean all households do. Dripping Springs ISD and Hays CISD have distributed hotspots, devices that provide mobile internet access.
Dripping Springs ISD has given out 15 and is waiting for 25 to be activated. Dripping Springs ISD Communications Coordinator Dale Whitaker said several hot spots are on order and she is unsure about when they will arrive. “I can't answer when they will arrive. In terms of an alternative, I think students in that position are working closely with their teachers to plan for the interim,” Whitaker said.
Hays CISD currently owns 120 hot spots, with 70 already checked out, and will be checking out an additional 50 in the coming days, but obtain-ing more is difficult due to the demand across the country, Communications Coordinator Tim Savoy said. “Internet access will be the largest challenge. We believe the Spectrum offer is likely the fastest way for families to get internet access. Currently, it could be several more weeks before we are able to buy additional hot spots. We know we will likely need additional hot spots, but they are currently back-ordered across the country, so obtaining them in a quick time frame will be a challenge. We are also pointing our parents to the free internet offer for students by Spectrum, which services most of our area,” Savoy said.
Wimberley ISD has not ordered any hotspots or provided any, but the district’s students regularly use Chromebooks, even before the pandemic began, Wimberley ISD Communications Coordinator Allen Bruggman said.
“WHS is a 1:1 campus with Chromebooks, so every student already has a take-home device. At this time our device coverage appears to be sufficient. Our technology department has looked into extending the external Wi-Fi coverage at the junior high and high school — which would make the parking lots Wi-Fi areas. We will work with any student to do whatever is necessary to get them access. Limited internet coverage in the Wimberley Valley area is a challenge,” Bruggman said.
Since many households have several students and parents working from home, the number of devices can be limited. Fortunately, school districts are providing devices, but obtaining devices is overwhelming across the nation.
So far, all school districts in Hays County have enough devices for students. Hays CISD has provided 400 devices ranging from laptops to iPads. Dripping Springs ISD has distributed 700 Chromebooks. Wimberley ISD students already use Chromebooks, but have sent out iPads in certain circumstances.
There have not been any plans, in any district, regarding when students will be expected to return their devices.
