Saugus super, school finance chief discuss laptop issues

SAUGUS – Superintendent Richard Langlois said he was disappointed parents didn?t come to him after some high school students complained about freshmen receiving laptops from the school.The School Committee discussed the issue at its meeting Thursday night after an article ran in the Daily Item about freshmen in the advanced academy at the high school receiving laptops.?The reason for the technology investment in this program is it?s an exceptional program, a high program of rigor and that?s what we articulated all last spring,” said Langlois. “It?s a part of the designed curriculum. We?ve heard nothing but positive reaction and good things from parents and kids in the program.”School Committee member Arthur Grabowski had several questions about the laptops, including concerns about funding and liability.?It?s not an indictment of the program,” said Grabowski. “It?s just a question of the rationale for buying these particular things for this program.”Executive Director of Finance and Operations Sam Rippin said the laptops, which cost $15,000 total for 30 of them, came out of the school?s year-end funds and said parents are responsible for their upkeep, much like they are with textbooks.?Anything beyond the normal wear and tear we would expect the parent to be responsible,” said Rippin.Langlois said parents must sign off on this measure before the laptops are given out, and emphasized that every student in the school district has access to computers.?There is no child in this school system that cannot access a computer today in any building, in any classroom,” said Langlois. “If I had more money, I would do it all for everyone, but we don?t. We?re investing where we strongly feel it?s an asset to the curriculum.”Grabowski also had concerns about the program moving forward, and having to buy new laptops every year for incoming freshmen entering the program.?My sense is for this coming year, it?s going to be a priority when we look at year-end close,” said Rippin. “I believe we?ll have $15,000 to buy them. If you know you have needs, you build a needs-based budget and it gets funded.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.