Wilson NC Teachers and Laptops

This may be just another way that school districts are stepping up to the plate to bring technology to everyone (students, teachers, etc.), yet when the Wilson County School Superintendent, Larry Price comments that it "would cost $3 million to buy laptops for all of the roughly 1,200 students at Hunt high school," and then adds that the district might "serve as a shining example" I have to wonder and ask "where is the $3 million coming from to pay for the student's laptops?"

The article does mention grants will cover the $200,000 cost for teacher training and laptops, but it isn't going to come anywhere near what is needed for all of the students. As I have noted in a prior blog, school districts should be leery of taking on grants that help them to purchase the tecnology upfront, but doesn't provide for additional future costs. Where this money comes from and how the district ends up handling the question of technology versus finding the funding are questions that not all districts face when they are first presented with the lure of grants. A cautious approach is definately warranted.

Despite, some of my misgivings over funding, I do have to say that the concept of bringing a laptop to every teacher and student at the Wilson School district is a wonderful ideal. I just hope it's an ideal that can come to fruitation without breaking the piggy bank.