News 1:1 roll out: Students receive computers, Internet security warnings

Vinton-Shellsburg High School students and their parents eagerly lined up Monday and Tuesday evenings to receive the first Apple Air Mac laptops.

But before becoming the first VSHS students to receive their own computer through the 1:1 iniative, the students and parents received a strong warning about Internet security.

"I know first-hand what happens when people make bad decisions, and what happens when people make bad decisions on-line," said Mark Sigwarth of the Iowa State Patrol.

An ISP Internet Security specialist, Sigwarth told the students and parents that they are very fortunate to have the opportunity to have their own personal computer for school use. The 1:1 iniative, he said, helps prepare students for college and also saves families the expense of purchasing a new computer.

Yet, Sigwarth warned families of the many predators who use the Internet to look for victims. 

"It's downright scary," he said of the way young people have been harmed by people who first contacted them via the Internet.

Sigwarth told the parents in the audience to make sure that when they went home that night, that their children changed all of their passwords on computer, I-phones and other devices, and that each parent had access to those passwords at all time. He also told the group that as a parent, he requires each of his children to turn in their devices before going to bed each night.

While acknowledging that such steps would not be popular among the students, Sigwarth told the audience it's the best way to ensure their children's online security.

Sigwarth compared a computer left on overnight to a door left unlocked.

The program

The entire cost of the 1:1 program – $502,000 – was paid for with income from PPEL funds, which are part of the 1-cent option sales tax.

The Apple Air Mac laptop computers, said Kingsbury, have more user-friendly features for educational settings. Most other districts have chosen Apple, he said.

While off campus, the computers will have the same Internet filtering system used on campus to prohibit the use of improper web sites. The district IT staff will also be able to monitor at all times the web activities of all users.

1:1 Frequently Asked Questions

What are the actual goals for implementing the 1:1 initiative at Vinton-Shellsburg Community Schools?

The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District is taking an aggressive initiative to transform teaching and learning within the district.  The 1:1 laptop initiative allows several things to occur for the benefit of student learning, including:

•Promoting student engagement and enthusiasm for learning

•Encouraging collaboration among students, teachers, parents, community members, and people throughout the nation and world through interactive capabilities and opportunities

•Reducing the use of worksheets and workbooks

•Guiding students in their learning and production of knowledge

•Allowing students access to information, along with an opportunity to connect it to their learning in a meaningful manner

Who is getting laptops?
All 9-12 grade students at Vinton-Shellsburg High School whose families have completed the school registration process.

Why Mac computers vs. PC computers?

·         ›More creative features and options

·         ›Less prone to viruses

·         ›Automatic updates

·         ›Compatibility with Windows

·         ›Fewer hacking issues

·         ›What teachers have been trained to use over the last two years

·         ›Apple products have been more education friendly

·         Student survey supported Mac purchase.

o        61% Mac laptop --  21% Mac ipad --  18% PC

Why Mac Airs (Laptop) vs. iPads?

·         Laptops are more robust of a tool.

·         While the iPad is getting closer to being a creative tool, we still felt they are more of a “consumer” device versus a “producing” device.

·         Staff have not been exposed to or trained on iPads like they have on laptops.

·         Costs are very similar when you consider cases, apps, and books.

·         Laptops have a keyboard for easier typing requirements.

·         Frequent Operating System updates can make the iPad useless over a shorter period of time. (In three years there have been six operating system updates to the iPads). A new operating system for a laptop can be applied to a much older device and they don’t change as often.

What is this going to cost our Taxpayers?

Estimated cost of computers, bags, filter, software, LMS, & firewall will cost around $502,000. ›This will be paid from Physical Plant Education Levy (PPEL) account and does not increase taxes. The PPEL account is not the same account that teachers’ salaries or activities are funded through. This purchase will no way affect teacher staffing at the high school or other buildings.

How will these machines be rotated throughout the district?

We have discussed a few rotation options for the 1:1 laptops in this purchase. The plan we feel will be best for the whole district is to purchase new machines for each freshman class as they come to the HS so the students are able to have the same machine all four years of their high school career. As students graduate, their machines would then be rotated down to younger grades as needed. There would be a smaller annual cost for the initiative and we would have the most up-to-date machines in our students’ hands on a larger scale than just the high school.

Laptop Questions

What if parents choose not to participate in the 1:1 initiative?

All our high school students will need access to a laptop during the school day.  A student whose family chooses not to participate in the initiative or pay into the damage loss co-op will have access to a laptop during the day but will not be allowed to take the laptop home.  These students must report to the High School Media Center at 8:00 each morning to sign-out a Checkout computer.  All Checkout computers must then be returned to the High School Media Center by 3:30.  

What will this “Damage Loss Co-op” be used for?

This annual cost will be put into a pool of money and will be used for general break/fixes as needed throughout the duration of the initiative as well as needed software throughout the years.

What computer and accessories will all students be receiving?

Students will be receiving the MacBook Air 11-inch, a laptop charger and a protective bag.  All three of these items will be assigned to each student and will need to be returned and checked in at the end of the school year.  Failure to return any of these items will result in the student being billed the full cost of the missing item or items.

Will students be able to take their laptop home?

Students may take their issued laptop home, as long as their parents have completed the necessary training, signed the necessary forms and paid into the damage loss co-op.  

What happens if a student forgets their laptop at home?

Students who accidentally leave their computers at home may have access to a limited amount of computers (checkouts) that are available in the Media Center. Students will be able to “sign in” to their account but would not be able to take the borrowed computer home with them.  Students will be allowed 1 time/trimester to use a computer from the Media Center(if one is available) if they forget their computer at home. After their one time allowed check out, check outs will be at Administrator's discretion.

Can students change the outward appearance of their laptop?

Students are not allowed to do anything to the computer that permanently alters it in any way.  Snap-on covers that fit the MacBook Air 11-inch properly are allowed but the following guidelines must be followed:

The promoting of products, which are illegal for use by minors such as alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.  The displays of obscene material, profanity, or references to subversion are not appropriate.

Computer cases should show respect for yourself, those around you, the school and the community.

Computer cases not appropriate for a school setting will be asked to be removed.

The computer will still need to fit into the case that is provided.

Will students have to turn in their computer at the end of the school year?

Students are responsible for returning their issued laptop computer, charging unit and bag to the Technology Department at the end of the school year.

May senior students purchase their laptop at the end of the year?

Our purchase agreement does not allow for the resale of these computers to students at this time.

Can students bring their own laptop rather than using one provided for them?

Students are not allowed to bring their own computers from home to use. Computers at Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District are all formatted with the same basic programs and structures, and many of these are not possible on other computers.  In addition, students will need to have access to our district server, and this configuration will only be available on school issued machines.

Access and Control Questions

Will these laptops replace traditional textbooks?

Students will still be issued traditional textbooks.  The laptop computer is not a replacement but an extra tool for education.  Teachers will be integrating electronic elements into traditional classes, using technology for instruction and assessment, but we are not replacing traditional education with laptops.

Will the high school still have desktop computer labs?

The majority of all standard computer labs will be removed from the high school.  The only desktop machines in the high school will be in the LMC mini lab, the Drafting Lab, the CAD lab for Project Lead the Way engineering courses and the Project Lead the Way labs.  Students will need to have their laptop for all other computing purposes.

Where should students store their laptops when they are not in class (PE, lunch, practice, etc.)?

Students need to keep their laptops in a secured location at all times when unsupervised.  The best choice students can make is to lock their laptop in their locker (using a combination lock).  The locked trunk of a car would be an acceptable storage place as long as it’s not excessively hot or cold.

If on an athletic team,the computers should never be left in school vehicles, in the gym, in a locker room, on a playing field or in other areas where it could be damaged or stolen.

Laptops left in bags in unattended classrooms or other areas considered “unattended” will be confiscated by faculty or staff as a protection against theft.  If confiscated, the student will receive a warning before getting the laptop back.  If the laptop is confiscated a second time, the student may be required to get a parent signature acknowledging financial responsibility before getting the laptop back, along with other potential appropriate consequences.

How will computer activity be monitored during the school day?

All teachers will have the LanSchool monitoring system on their computers.  This system allows teachers to see the screens and the computer activities of their students.  This system also allows teachers to “lock out” certain internet sites and programs (for example, teachers may block students from having any internet access while taking a test).

Will student internet access be filtered outside of school?

›CIPA (Child Internet Protection Act) is a Federal Requirement to filter and monitor all internet access to minors. ›We have and will continue to filter all district provided internet access.

›We are not required to, but will continue to be filter school issued machines by the school’s website filtering software even when the computer is connected to the internet outside of school.  Among the obvious sites that will be blocked, Facebook will be blocked at both school and home.

It is ultimately the parental responsibility to monitor student computer use at home while on the home internet connection.

Will the school have expanded access for students without home internet access?

The High School Media Center will be open for the students from 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM.  The commons area is open anytime the building is open beyond the school day for activities and practices. There are also several locations around town that offer free wifi. (Koffee Haus, McDonalds, Public Libraries, etc.)

What if we don’t have internet access in our home?

›We know from the survey that not everyone has internet access at home. ›In order to get internet access at home, it will need to be provided by guardians. We will ›provide vendors on the night of roll out for families to talk to. ›Internet will not be “required” for the student to do their work. A lot of what is done, can be done without internet. Students learn ways to download content from online tools and upload them again the next day if no internet access is available at home. There are also many locations in the community to gain access if not at home. (Koffee Haus, Libraries, McDonalds, School, etc.)

Do students own the laptop?

The students are renting the laptop from the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District and thus, the laptop is District property.

Can students access the internet at home using their own internet provider?

Students may easily connect to any wifi system.  Students may plug-in and connect to the internet using an ethernet cable also, but they may need a converter to make sure the port fits into the computer. The Technology Department will have converters available for checkout if students need one.

Computer Support and Care Questions

How often will the computers need to be plugged in or charged?

The battery life in the MacBook Air is between 7 and 8 hours.  Students should come to school with a fully charged laptop.  Students should also try to preserve battery power during the school day by lowering the lid whenever the computer is not in use

What if a laptop is lost, stolen or broken?

If a computer is lost, the student will be financially responsible for its replacement.  If a computer is stolen or vandalized, the parent shall file a police report.  Please refer to the Cooperative Loss Program on damage costs that will be incurred by the student’s family. We also encourage families to put the computer on their home insurance if possible.

Who pays for a broken machine?

Our insurance policy has a $250 deductible. If there are breaks that do not reach that deductible students/families are responsible for the following: (pending board approval)

1^stbreak/fix = $75 (Accident)

2^ndbreak/fix = $150 (Accident)

3^rdbreak/fix = total cost of fix (Accident)

Any malicious break/damage will be full cost to the student/family. 

Statistics show that students take very good care of their laptop when it is assigned to only them throughout the year.  

A student who does not have a computer due to the computer being damaged accidentally will be allowed to use a computer from school.  These Checkout computers will be available for students to use during the time of repair.  A student who does not have a computer due to the computer being damaged intentionally may be allowed to checkout a school owned computer only if there is one available.  The student will not be allowed to take the laptop home.

What is the best way to clean the screen?

Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth when cleaning the computer.  If necessary, the cloth may be dampened slightly to assist in the cleaning areas that do not appear to be coming clean with the dry cloth.  Computer screens show fingerprints and smudges easily, but be sure to follow proper cleaning procedures to keep your screen looking new.  

What is the safest way to handle the laptop as it travels from home to school?

The laptop must be carried and stored in the issued protective bag at all times when not in use.  Students must be careful not to squeeze or crush the bag and computer if transporting it inside of their regular backpack.