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by LEGEND o you ght t Brou PLUMBING & ROOTER
LIC# ML16126
830.303.3335
The Voice of Seguin Today
Volume 55, Number 118
830-379-2234
Seguin ISD students to have access to personal mobile devices this fall (Seguin) - Students in the Seguin ISD this upcoming school year will have a personal electronic device of their own.
19 pandemic. With the uncertainty of the typical school day this fall, as well as the potential for additional extended closures, getting a mobile device into the hands of our students is paramount," said Lewis.
The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees this week approved the personal technology device thanks to the school district's new 1:1 initiative.
This fall, the plan calls for Seguin High School students to be assigned a Chromebook. At the elementary level, kindergarten through third grade students will have access to iPads while fourth and fifth graders will have Macbooks. During the second year of the program, middle school students will receive Chromebooks.
Trustees unanimously approved funding for the plan to ensure that students are getting the most out of their day by having unlimited access to technology. "Expanding the availability to technology in the classroom and beyond will allow all of our students to participate, collaborate and interact with lessons. When our students have access to their own device, we won't have to worry about the inconvenience of sharing technology," said Bill Lewis, Seguin ISD associate superintendent of technology during his presentation to trustees on the new initiative.
Lewis explained that the first-year cost for the initiative will be $620,000. Year two will see a similar cost. Trustees unanimously approved the year one amount through a designation of fund balance during Tuesday's board meeting. The 1:1 initiative also includes a fiveyear technology replacement cycle as devices, apps and software starts to become obsolete.
During 2020-2021--year one of the program--ninth through twelfth grade students will receive a device that they are free to take home while kindergarten through fifth graders will have access to a device in the classroom.
The rollout will include additional program aspects such as a student device protection plan, staff professional development during the summer months, cord replacement, athome web filters, charging stations and access to Google Classroom.
"This past spring saw us deploying devices to students as our school buildings were closed due to the COVID-
B.J. Jeffers 830-560-0057