Laptop damage causes SAD 70 to mull change

By Sarah Berthiaume
Special to the Pioneer Times
    HODGDON – A computer repair bill topping $10,000 is causing school officials to reconsider rules governing laptops at Mill Pond School.
    Currently, seventh- and eighth-grade students are allowed to take their laptops home after school, but that may change in the near future.
    According to a report presented at Monday’s school board meeting, the laptops are returning to school with major damage. Five were broken in the last four days before Christmas break — two of which will need to be completely replaced, according to information from Mill Pond School Principal Loreen Wiley. Also, when computers are checked and updated, staff found that students “are not on educational sites, but [instead spending time] on Facebook, iTunes, etc.”
    “We’re finding that these students have no vested interest in taking care of the laptops,” explained Superintendent Bob McDaniel. “And, most of the time, when they take the laptops home, they’re not being used for school projects.”
    The laptops, which are school property, are not a requirement for most homework in the middle school. The district does have policy in place to handle damage to school property, but part of the trouble is collecting reimbursement for the laptop damage, say officials. So far, just $375 has been collected toward the $10,000 total.
    More than one board member echoed agreement with the idea of cutting take-home privileges for the laptops and instead considering exceptions for various student groups and special projects.
    Others disagreed.
    “Shouldn’t we just enforce the policy we have for reimbursement?” asked Board Member Tom Horton.
    Board Member William Fitzpatrick said he was amazed at how the program seems to have changed.
    “When we started with the laptops, we were all so excited about getting these laptops to the students and sending them home [to help the students learn more]. And now,” he added, “We’re thinking about taking them back. It’s just amazing how things have come full circle like this.”
    High school students are also allowed to take their laptops home, but excessive damage has not been a problem at that level, say staff.
    No action was taken at Monday’s meeting. More information will be presented at a later date.
    In other business, the board put a proposed Project Graduation fundraiser on hold because of concerns about “weapons” on school property.
    The spring fundraiser, which must gain board approval, would include a laser tag course set up in the Hodgdon High School gym and is projected to raise roughly $1,500 for Hodgdon seniors. But some board members expressed major concern about the lasertaggers.
    “These things look just like real weapons,” said Board Member David Stevens. “If a kid brought one of these to school, we’d suspend him. Should we be allowing something like this on school property if it’s against school policy?”
    Board chair Estela Lane called those concerns “legitimate” and agreed the board should consider the legal implications.
    According to information presented, G-Force Laser Tag, a Caribou-based company, has presented similar games for other area schools and several other Project Graduation committees. But that wasn’t enough to convince the entire board. More information will be gathered for the board to consider next month.
    “We all want to raise money, but we do have to keep the safety of the kids in mind,” said George Harris, treasurer of this year’s Project Graduation committee.
    Also at the Jan. 9 meeting, the following items were approved:
    • The board OK’d a policy change that would cut the number of graduation speakers down, from five to three.
    • Jennie Hare was hired as an Ed Tech II.
    The board’s next meeting will be Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.