Austintown officials plan to tweak chromebook program

AUSTINTOWN — Austintown school officials will make some changes to the HP chromebook program after its initial year is wrapping up.

School officials have begun to collect about 2,800 chromebooks distributed to students earlier this year. Another 200 laptops went to staff, who can use them during the summer if they are continuing with the district next school year, said Tom Ventresco, district technology coordinator.

The district spent about $1.1 million last summer in purchasing 3,000 HP chromebooks, using Google software, and carts.

At a recent Austintown Board of Education work session meeting, assistant Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor said the board could vote this summer to waive the $20 general supply fee if a student at Fitch High School or Austintown Middle School purchases the $50 insurance plan for having a chromebook.

Another potential change is that families could opt not to take the insurance plan, but if the device was stolen or broken, the family would have to pay the full cost of repairing or replacing the laptop.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com