The Wicomico County Board of Education has received millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, enough for them to furnish the entire school system with enough laptops and equipment for every student and teacher. This met the school’s pre-COVID visionary plan of having technology for each and every student. If not for COVID-19, we would be many years away from achieving the school system’s goal. In place of traditional teaching materials such as books, handouts, and paper, these laptops will replace education as we know it. Moving forward, WCBOE has decided to make these laptops mandatory if you want your child to physically attend Wicomico County Public Schools in a hybrid environment.
On February 9, 2021, WCBOE presented in their monthly board meeting that the school system has reached the goal of 15,000 laptops, enough for each student in the school system (pictured above). Most have the DELL Latitude 3380, which was manufactured back in 2017. Several parents sent us pictures of their school-issued laptops, which we see that they all used, off-lease refurbished laptops that have been previously used for 3 years by someone other than the WCBOE. It was said that these laptops were pulled from laptop carts to be repurposed for virtual learning. They did not have 15,000 used laptops on hand, so that story may only be partially true. Of all the laptops we looked up, they were all originally purchased in 2017 and have expired warranties.
Accepting an out-of-warranty laptop that has no
liability insurance policy attached is a dumb move.
Refurbished is both a economical and ecologically sound decision.
Forcing a product on a person is illegal.
So go by your own kid a laptop to use!
That’s fine but they need them in the classroom and will be stolen sooo no
Did you read? They won’t let you bring it !!
It’s a trap
My kid is not bringing home a four year old laptop with an unknown history.
Keeping schools closed is a super dumb move.
CDC Director Redfield said back in the summer that schools should open. Following the science, he said: “[T]he risk per 100,000 [children], so far, you know, into the outbreak, six months into it, is, in fact, that we’re looking at about .1 per 100,000. So another way to say that, it’s one in a million. Now, I’m not trying to belittle that, I’m just trying to make sure we look at it proportional. Because if you do the same thing for influenza deaths for school-age children over the last five years, they’re anywhere from five to 10 times greater. So I want people to understand the risk properly as they make that decision.”
Bet they paid new prices too. SO Ready for voucher system YET!!!
Current system is FUBAR burn it down, ISSUE VOUCHERS! Get government out of education NOW!!
most kid dont go to school to learn ,its all bout the fashion and popularity contests.
Biden is healing the world every day. If you don’t believe me ask senator Biden.
They have to figure out how to make up the 8 million deficient they will have next year due to lower enrollement.
what’s enrollment got to do with it? taxes are not adjusted by enrollment.
Enrollment is a factor in creating BOE budgets across the state and nation, i.e., more students justify more money. That money is provided through taxation.
ITs the money we get from state based on enrollment.
As government creates no income, any money from the county, state or federal governments comes from taxation.
Grumblers gotta grumble.
All students should now have a device, personal or WCBOE owned of various models, ages, etc. Reasonable wear and tear are to be expected. But almost all kids have been schooling from in their own house so wear & tear ought to be less. Kids & parents who chose hybrid are just recently traveling to school two (2) days per week.
BOE configuration only in the actual school minimizes 1) bugs/viruses/malware, etc. that might affect other devices 2) lost time in hybrid in-person class when Johnny’s personal computer won’t link or work properly 3) loss or damage to Susie’s computer on the bus or in the school. Probably some other good reasons that didn’t occur to me.
Kids staying with virtual classes (seems like most) can use whatever device they have. If their owned one goes bad school will provide one.
It’s an imperfect world but BOE has got devices and needed accessories for all students and staff, added parent/guardian emails, etc. For comparison, have grandkid in DC where they are not even close to what Wicomico has accomplished. Just sayin’.
I refer you to comments #’s 1,3,5&6. Kids need schools open for social interaction probably more than the pablum that is taught there. Put down the koolaid and remember your own childhood.
It’s not about whether the kids will catch COVID if they go back in person. Let’s think about all the teachers & support/building staff . They are older, may have pre-existing conditions, etc. BOE needs to make sure they can be vaccinated first.
I’m bettin just sayin is a wboe employee. who else would defund such a f’d up bunch of under educated idiots?
If the former Principal and guidance councilor used them who knows what could be on them
Oh for Christ sake, just open the schools and get on with the teaching and learning. Quit all the political BS, enough already.
Not only are the laptops 4 years old but they are minimum spec junk to begin with.
Be careful! There could be a undiscovered laptop from Delaware with some less desirable information and pictures on it.