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6/18/2009–Laptop initiative for seventh graders
DOBSON — With funds from the budget approved by the Surry County Board of Commissioners Monday night, area schools are looking to advance the technology available to students.
Surry County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ashley Hinson said at the board of education retreat on Thursday that the one-to-one laptop initiative planned by the school system would not be possible without the help of the county commissioners.
The school system received the promise of that help with the passing of the county budget Monday night. In that budget, the commissioners designated $154,893 to the school system to begin implementing the initiative. That is the amount it would take to cover a one-year lease of Dell Latitude laptops for every seventh grader in the system.
These laptops were built for a K-8 environment, not for the general consumer who would purchase an Inspiron, which is the computer most bought for everyday use. The laptops have a rubberized cover and no open vents on the bottom to protect them from drops and spills. They also come with a six-cell battery with a life of about five hours.
The school system would need to purchase about 700 laptops to cover the entire seventh grade. At the end of a three-year lease period, the school system would have the option to purchase the computers for $1. As of Thursday, the purchase price for the computers was $591, but that price is subject to change. Read more here.
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