Computer roll-out at Decorah schools is going well

The Decorah Community School District's program to provide one-to-one computers for all students in the district is going well.

Last fall the Decorah School Board approved the purchase of almost $1.7 million in computers, which is allowing the school district to provide iPads for each student in grades PK-4, and a MacBook Air for all students in grade 5-12. The younger grades will not be allowed to take the computers home.  Signed parental agreements and acknowledgment of responsibility are part of the program.

Monday night Director of Information, Systems, & Instructional Technology Kurt DeVore told school board members Decorah Middle School students had received MacBook Airs just before Christmas, while High School students received MacBook Airs last Monday and Carrie Lee students got iPads on Friday.  DeVore said the rollout "has gone fairly smoothly" and he thanked school district employees for "the team effort--not just from the tech staff but from everyone."

School Board member Melanie Tietz emphasized the new computers are an important part of the curriculum.  "It's a learning tool--it's like getting a textbook," she said.