Can I test a Chromebook?

Chromebooks have been all the talk lately… a $249 laptop that kids can log into in under 10 seconds to get basic access to the Internet and Google Apps.

Q1. What’s the district’s plan for the Chromebook?
A1. Our current thinking is that Chromebooks could be used to complement our existing laptop carts –  not to fully replace them.

Q2. I’ve heard that Chromebooks are popular with other school districts – and even heard that they are the item of choice for a 1:1?
A2. First, there is no decision by the district to proceed with 1:1 or even proceed with 1:1 piloting/testing – so there is no plan related to 1:1.  As for Chromebooks being the item of choice for 1:1, that also hasn’t been determined for us, as we don’t even have approval to continue 1:1 discussions. As of popularity, we know that other districts are proceeding with Chromebooks as their device (Norwalk, Carroll, Denison, and Council Bluffs) but there are also plenty of other districts proceeding with other types of devices.

Q3. What grade levels/areas will Chromebooks be most popular?
A3.  Since you need a Google Apps account to log into a Chromebook  – it will be most popular with classes that use Google Apps.  What we are hearing around the district so far is that 4th thru 12th grade will see the most usage, as they tend to do the most in Internet based research, word processing, and collaborative projects where groups of students are writing or creating slide shows together.

Q4.  Is there a Chromebook that I can checkout/test, to see what it can do…
A4. Yes, there’s at least one Chromebook in every school – so please see your building tech person and/or your teacher librarian to get help with locating the device.

Q5. After I’m done checking it out… who do I send my feedback to?
A5.  Send comments, questions, concerns to Brian Abeling.

New family registration in August

Q1. I’ve heard the district will still offer new family registration in August, is this correct?  Aren’t they required to visit the District Registrar?
A1. Yes, this August each school will continue to offer new family registration at their school site as they have done before in prior years.  The paper work and verifications are required to go through the district registrar, but the family does not have to physically visit the district registrar.  In fact, during this past school year, most new families registered without having to physically visit the registrar’s office.

Q2. What happens if a new family visits the school on the new family registration day in August – and they haven’t completed anything yet with the district registrar, does the school then send them over to the district offices?
A2. No…  New families can fill out the necessary paperwork at the school building.  (In fact, schools can let Joy Zuber know how many new family packets you’d like, and we’ll send them to your school office so they are available).  The families are welcome to fill out the paperwork at the school, and then the paperword can then be directed to the District Registrar for processing.

Q3. Will the schools be able to get same day service during the new family registration?  In other words, if the family has everything needed (including address verification), can we get them registered that same day?
A3.  Yes, we are bringing in extra help during summer months and through August new family registration to help process new families as quickly as we can.

Q4.  What if the family visits the District Registrar over the summer and completes everything that the district needs… will the family still be directed to visit the school on the new family registration?
A4. We know that some schools have additional information that they want from families, so we can will direct them to your new family registration unless you tell us otherwise.

Q5. Can the district registrar come to our school during new family registration to help families?
A5.  No.  Since all new family registrations are on the same date, the district registrar is not able to be at all schools at one time.  Instead, we will be at the district offices ready to field questions and handle new family registrations.