1:1 Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: 8/17/2023
- Why are we doing this?
- What will this cost and who is paying for it?
- What is the Annual Tech (Chromebook) Fee?
- What happens if I buy the Chromebook?
- If I buy the Chromebook will it get outdated in a few years?
- Can I make payments on the device or pay the Technology Fee at the beginning of the year and the balance later?
- What happens if the device is damaged or needs repaired?
- Can I buy insurance for Chromebook?
- Can I use my own case?
- Can I decorate or alter the case?
- Who owns the Chromebook?
- May I take the Chromebook home?
- I’m concerned about my student accessing inappropriate information on the Internet. What are you doing about that?
- Can a student bring in his/her own device?
- What are the polices and procedures?
- If I transfer to another School District, what do I do with the Chromebook?
- Will faculty or staff be able to access or control the webcam on the Chromebook?
- How do I carry my Chromebook?
- Where do I keep my Chromebook while at school?
- Is there anything special I should do with my Chromebook at home?
Why are we doing this? To be consistent with our Mission Statement, the Hermitage School District has an obligation to prepare students for an ever-changing world, one that sees technological advancements happening at a rapid rate. We believe that every student has a right to an education that prepares them for further education and/or future employment, and develops the skills that they must have as citizens of the 21st Century: creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. As our District moves towards 1:1, we will ensure that every student in every class will have the opportunity to learn in an engaging environment reflective of the world that surrounds all of us.
What will this cost and who is paying for it? A primary goal of the initiative is to create a 21st Century learning environment, in a fiscally responsible manner. Just as the District currently provides high quality textbooks and other instructional materials for students, the district will supply quality devices to meet the instructional demands of today’s learners. Chromebooks are instructional tools, and the District is looking closely at the spending patterns on current instructional materials and supplies, in order to reallocate funds towards this initiative. Additionally, the district will be implementing an Annual Tech (Chromebook) Fee.
What is the Annual Tech (Chromebook) Fee?
Effective for the 2017-2018 school year, all students in grades 8-12 will pay an Annual $50 Tech (Chromebook) Fee to offset the cost of the Chromebooks. If your child qualifies for the free/reduced lunch program and you submit an application that is approved on or before your Chromebook Distribution Date the technology fee will be $10 for those approved for free lunch per year and $20 for those approved for reduced lunch per year. For more information on the Free/Reduced Meal Program or to submit an application please visit our information page. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase the Chromebook for a discounted rate based on the grade level of the student. If you choose to purchase the Chromebook, the device becomes yours to keep should you leave the district and you are no longer responsible for paying the Technology Usage Fee each school year. In 2018-19 all incoming 8th grade students may choose to purchase the Chromebook for $200. For comparative purposes, retail price of the Acer C731T Chromebook at CDW.com is $269.
What happens if I buy the Chromebook? If you choose to purchase the Chromebook, the device becomes yours to keep should you leave the district and you are no longer responsible for paying the Annual Tech (Chromebook) Fee each school year. You can use any case you like. While the Chromebook is under warranty we will repair any defects with the device at no cost to the student. Should the Chromebook be damaged due to misuse or abuse or if a repair is needed after the warranty expires the student will be billed for the replacement parts. Please see the question, What happens if the device is damaged or needs repaired?, for more information. Please note that while the student is signed in to the Chromebook their Internet usage will be filtered even when they are not on our campus.
If I buy the Chromebook will it get outdated in a few years? Chromebooks run an operating system called Chromium, which is much different than Microsoft Windows and MacOS. Google’s Auto Update policy is committed to updating Chromebooks for at least.5 years.
Can I make payments on the device or pay the Technology Fee at the beginning of the year and the balance later? The only option for payments is if you are choosing to buy the Chromebook using the online store you can pay $50 for 4 consecutive months. There is, however, a fee to process those payments. We are not able to monitor a payment plan outside of the store, so if you are submitting a check, money order or cash for payment it must be either for the entire Technology Usage Fee or for the entire payment of the Chromebook.
What happens if the device is damaged or needs repaired? All Chromebooks have a 1 year warranty for defects and failures only. During the warranty period we ask that any student experiencing an issue with their Chromebooks report it immediately. There will be no cost to the student during the warranty period for parts covered under the warranty. After the warranty or insurance expires, any parts needed for repair will be the responsibility of the student. Labor costs will be the responsibility of the District. Should a Chromebook be lost or stolen it will be the responsibility of the student to replace under the direction of the District. Any Chromebook abused or intentionally damaged will be repaired at the expense of the student. The cost of replacements parts are listed below. Please note that part prices are subject to change based on availablility. If a part is unavailable from the manufacturer the District will make every effort to find quality parts at the most reasonable cost.
| Acer C733T (Used by the Classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026) | HP 11MK G9 (Used by the Class of 2027) | Lenovo 300e Gen3 (Used by the Class of 2028) | |
| Part Name | Cost | Cost | Cost |
| AC Adapter | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Battery | $30 | $40 | $27 |
| Keyboard Assembly | $25 | $40 | $43 |
| Touchpad | $6 | $7 | $9 |
| LCD Touch Display | $70 | $70 | $120 |
| Mainboard | $190 | $220 | $95 |
Can I buy insurance for Chromebook? For students in grades 10-12 in 2023-24, the District has partnered with Worth Ave Group to provide Accidental Damage and Extended Warranty Protection for up to 3 years. Parents/Guardians can purchase this coverage as long as the Chromebook is not damaged. If a repair is warranted, it must be completed prior to purchasing the insurance. The cost of the insurance is based on your grade level and device and only needs purchased once, unless it was purchased as an 8th grade student and has reached its expiration (typically the summer prior to the student’s senior year).
- 2023-24 Seniors – Class of 2024 with a C733T (expires August 20th, 2024) – $30
- 2023-24 Juniors – Class of 2025 and a C733T (expires August 31st, 2025) – $60
- 2023-24 Sophomores – Class of 2026 with a C733T (expires August 31st, 2026) – $90
- 2023-24 Freshman – Class of 2027 with an HP 11MK G9 will receive 4 years of accidental damage and extended warranty that covers up to $250 of repairs included with the Annual Technology Fee or Purchase price. Any claims exceeding that amount or that are not covered (ie. intentional damage or lost/stolen) will be the responsibility of the student.
- 2023-24 Grade 8 – Class of 2028 with a Lenovo 300e Gen3 – $117 for 54 months of coverage (4 years + 6 months) or $75 for 42 months (3 years + 6 months)
This covers Accidental Damage such as Cracked Screens, Liquid Spills, Fire/Flood Damage, Natural Disasters, Power Surge Due to Lightning. It also covers Vandalism, Mechanical Failure and Mechanical Defect. It does not cover intentional damage by the student to their own device nor does it cover lost or stolen devices. For Class of 2024-2026, please read this flyer for more details.
Can I use my own case?
No. Students must use the case that the District provides unless the student purchases the Chromebook. The District researched several cases and selected the one that we felt offered the best protection.
Can I decorate or alter the case? Students may decorate the case in any way as long as the case is not cut into or otherwise altered that may compromise the integrity or protection the case provides. Painting the case, adding stickers, labels, etc. are considered appropriate. If you have any questions, please ask Mrs. Leonard in the library.
Who owns the Chromebook? The Hermitage School District owns the Chromebook unless the student pays the purchase price as listed above. Students will use the same device each school year for the functional life of the device. Therefore, it is very important that the device be treated with care. You are required to leave all identification and inventory tags in place.
May I take the Chromebook home? Students may take the device home once the Computer/Network Acceptable Use Policy, via the online Returning Student Information Form, and the Student Chromebook Acceptance Form, printed and submitted to Mrs. Leonard in the HHS Library, are completed. If for any reason parents do not want the device at home, students may sign them in and out each day. Please call the Hickory High School Main Office for details.
I’m concerned about my student accessing inappropriate information on the Internet. What are you doing about that? The Hermitage School District is in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and maintains a content filter and firewall for all Internet-enabled computers and equipment on and off the the District’s network. We will utilize Securly to both filter and log the content accessed by the Chromebook. Securly offers a Parent Portal that allows parents or guardians to monitor their student’s activity and receive a weekly report as well as immediate alerts when they attempt to access a restricted site. For more information, please contact Mrs. Leonard in the HHS Library.
Can a student bring in his/her own device? All students in grades 8-12 must use the school issued Chromebook while in school. If students bring a multitude of devices that operate differently and don’t have a common set of applications, it becomes very difficult for classroom teachers to plan lessons and manage workflow. In addition, one of the goals of going 1:1 is to ensure that all students have access to quality devices that give access to the Internet. Using school-issued devices allows us to ensure that our systems are optimized to meet the needs of the classroom.
What are the polices and procedures?
- School Board Policy 815 – Computer/Network Acceptable Use
- Student Chromebook Equipment Acceptance Form
If I transfer to another School District, what do I do with the Chromebook? The student must return the Chromebook prior to their last day with the Hermitage School District unless the student purchased it. Any Chromebook not returned will be locked and legal proceedings may be pursued.
Will faculty or staff be able to access or control the webcam on the Chromebook? No. Faculty and staff will not have access to remote control the webcam.
How do I carry my Chromebook? Always carry the Chromebook in its case even when at home. The District supplies always-on style cases for this purpose. Carrying a Chromebook by its screen can damage the hinge and/or display and could result in a chargeable repair.
Where do I keep my Chromebook while at school? At school, you will carry your Chromebook to all your classes. For any classes not requiring your Chromebook, or during lunch, you must store it in your locked locker or keep it with you. You are responsible for the Chromebook and should never leave it unattended or unsecured.
Is there anything special I should do with my Chromebook at home? Be sure you plug the Chromebook in overnight so you come to school with a fully charged battery. Bring your Chromebook with you every day to school. You will be responsible if it is not ready for classwork every day.