Ed-Co Loans Students Laptops

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

Tools

By James Steward

Story Created: Aug 19, 2011 at 5:44 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 19, 2011 at 5:44 PM CDT

One eastern Iowa school district is trying a new way to level the field for rural students - give them the latest technology.

From college to many workplaces, laptops have become an essential tool.

To change with the times, one small Iowa school district is loaning a lap top to every student in Junior High and High School.

Inside Edgewood Colesburg School computers are nothing new - the Internet itself was born before many of the students. But now these students are trying a brand new concept for the school year.

“I think it’s the new way of doing business,” said Superintendent Ed Klamfoth.

Gone are the pencils and notebooks. In are Macintosh laptops.

“I like writing notes, but now we have to type it,” said student Rachel Moser.

“Every student is assigned a laptop," Klamfoth said. "They and their parents have the choice whether or not they want to take it out of the building.”

District administrators say the laptops are a way of keeping all students on the same page. Students are allowed to bring the laptops home. That’s a big help since not all students have a computer at home.

“With math problems and science, you just look it up on the Internet,” said student Ryan Jaster.

At $800 a piece, the laptop rental is costing the district about $200,000 per year. The money comes from the school’s budget and Local Option Sales Tax. It's money school officials say is well spent.

“If it can enhance learning is that’s really how we are looking at it," Klamfoth said. "An investment to help us help kids learn. You have to invest in all that all the time and make decisions that way. ”

“I went on a college visit and they said, you need to know your technology and this is teaching me something everyday,” said Moser.

And administrators say there’s no price tag on that.

Students are allowed to play internet games or log on to websites like Facebook, but teachers are able to monitor all activity on the school-issued laptops.