FREEHOLD – An initiative to issue Google Chromebook laptop computers to sixth grade pupils in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District has been authorized by the Board of Education.
The board has authorized district administrators to implement a one-to-one device initiative by issuing a Chromebook laptop computer to each sixth-grader at the Freehold Intermediate School.
According to the board, district administrators have determined that if each child has a device available throughout the school day, daily instruction will be enhanced.
Although district administrators said that no assignment to be completed at home will specifically require the use of the computer, students may use the Chromebook to complete homework and parents/guardians will be given the option to allow their child to bring the device home at the end of each school day.
Because insurance is not offered for loss of the computer, parents/guardians who give permission for their child to bring the device home each day will assume a pre-determined financial obligation for potential loss of the Chromebook.
After authorizing the initiative, the board passed a resolution authorizing Business Administrator Joseph Howe to enter into a lease-purchase agreement with Dell Marketing LP for 190 Google Chromebook computers, 190 Google Chrome OS Management Console Licenses for Education and 190 Go Guardian Web Filtering licenses.
According to the resolution, the total purchase price for the equipment and licensing is $73,085. Dell Financial Services’ lease-purchase financing will be for a four-year term at an annual lease rate of $19,604, for a total lease payment of $78,417. At the end of four years, the computers will become the property of the school district.
In other business, the board approved Timothy Jablonski as a Freehold Intermediate School security guard for sports events from Nov. 27, 2017, through June 30, 2018. Jablonski will be paid $15 per hour. The board approved Michael George as substitute Freehold Intermediate School security guard for sports events, also from Nov. 27, 2017, through June 30, 2018, at a rate of $15 per hour.
Finally, the board recognized James Keelan, who is leaving the panel at the end of December. Keelan joined the board in 2001 and served as president from 2006-09. He did not seek re-election this year.
