A proposal to change the manner in which school-issued student iPads are insured against damage that was discussed at Tuesday night’s Saucon Valley School Board meeting is receiving criticism from numerous parents on the Saucon Source Facebook page.
The change–which was detailed in a Morning Call article about the meeting–would ostensibly eliminate any need for parents to insure the devices privately.
Instead, according to the article, parents and students would have the option to purchase insurance directly from the district at a cost of $45 per device; insurance that to date has reportedly been needed by about 10 percent of families whose children have the iPads.
The school district is in the process of expanding its so-called 1:1 initiative to additional grade levels, which means that hundreds more Saucon students will be using school-issued iPads next year than ever before.
Many parents feel that the cost of the insurance should be borne by the district.
“If the school is mandating students to have the iPad, the school should be responsible to insure them,” wrote Leanna Gimbar Reifinger in a Facebook comment that had received at least eight thumbs up. “My child currently in 10th grade has maintained very high grades without the iPad so far. Personally I see no use for them.”
Renea Dreisbach Lau agreed.
In a reply to Reifinger she wrote, “Imagine having (a) large family… Now you must have them and who’s got to insure them? If the school wants them to have them, I say they be held accountable for the insurance.”
Allan Bach said, “Students don’t own the iPad, yet they (or their parents) are required to pay an insurance fee, with a deductible? That’s about as ridiculous as a taxpayer paying for a teacher’s health plan.”
The iPads do have their fans, however.
“I have two kids with iPads and they work good most of the time and it is less paper,” commented Nicole Reily.
And Sheila Dieterly credited the iPad with helping her child’s academic performance improve.
“I’m very happy my kids have them (too),” she said. “Before they got them his grades were not good, but with (the) iPad (they’re) so much better.”
How do you feel about Saucon Valley School District’s iPad technology initiative in general, and the insurance proposal in particular? Tell us by posting a comment.
