If they need a device, they will get it.
That’s the word from Matt Hearon, director of Technical Services at Hays CISD.
With thousands of Hays CISD student not returning to their schools this school year, at-home learning is
now up to the parents to complete. But with some students not having laptops to continue their education, some will struggle to stay on top of their studies.
“Everybody that needs a device will get one,” said Matt Hearon, director of Technology Services at Hays CISD. “We’re doing our best to make sure everyone gets a device.”
The district had 3,942 requests for laptops, and so far 3,600 devices have been prepped for distribution across 25 campuses and most have been issued, according to Hearon. Some parents that registered for devices did not pick them up. Families with multiple district students will have to share devices if need be to ensure every household that requested a device has access. Hearon added that if more devices are needed, the district will provide them.
The majority of the devices are Chromebooks and about 10 percent are iPads. Due to high volumes of Chromebook requests from schools all over the U.S., getting the devices took extra time.
To ensure health protection from COVID-19, the devices are being wiped down with disinfectant and placed in bags. Some pickup sites are using a drive-up system to reduce chances of infection.
If laptops and iPad have damage or technical issues, the district will swap the devices out for new ones. If physical damage, such as dropping the laptop or breaking it, is caused after receiving the Chromebook, the person has to pay $220, the cost of the Chromebook. Hearon said they have not run into this issue yet.
When the devices will be returned is unknown, but if schools reconvene as usual next year, Hearon said he would like to see returns happening in early June.
