The Administration of MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate changed the policy on Chromebooks over the Summer. The new policy is used to let every core classroom house a Chromebook cart to reduce damage costs and repairs.

According to Computer Technician Mr. Jesus Lozano, the most common Chromebook damages found last year would range from water damage, to heat, to cracked screens, to viruses and so on.  After the new policy was instated, the damages went from total destruction of the Chromebook to, now, lesser problems such as missing keys and cracked keyboards.  Lozano also said, “I like the new rule. it went from 100 damaged chromebooks to 2 to 3 a day which helped with my work load.”

Broken keyboards and screens were paid to be fixed by the school, while total damage was paid by the parent or students responsible.  Many parents did buy insurance on the Chromebook at the beginning of the school year.

Angel Hernandez, eighth grade, said of the new policy that he “hates that parents return it for the child without checking.”

Eighth-grader David Perez also said the policy “feels like it’s not that good.”  David also complained about not having the Chromebook “with me.”

In the new school year over 846 Chromes books were checked out to classrooms all over campus.  There was also 365 Chromebooks checked out to students, who now have access to the computers daily at home.

The teachers suggested the rule change at the end of last year in order to get more value from the technology.  After resolving the logistical challenges of the new rule, Principal Mr. David Casper ensured core classrooms, beginning with math and language arts, all had carts to begin the year.