Laptops return to carts, not students

^{Graphic by DJ Hernandez}

By Fiona Fehrman and Sofia Alvarez Pedraza

Editor’s note: Chromebooks were distributed to students on December 18.

Students will not be getting Chromebooks back this semester.

Riverside hasn’t had Chromebooks since the year started. In the beginning of the school year when Chromebooks were being distributed, bed bugs were found crawling around them, this led to Chromebooks being collected. Teachers have shifted to paper assignments and many students have resorted to bringing their own laptops.

As the year goes, parents are starting to wonder when students will get Chromebooks. Students, on the other hand, aren’t sure they even want them.

Many teachers at Riverside have transitioned away from online assignments and back to paper and pencil work. Some students see the benefits of paperwork.

“It’s already almost halfway in the year and I kinda like no computer homework, ” said sophomore Joshua Young.

Others are frustrated and are ready for a return to digital.

“They are a very important and useful resource and eliminate the need to use paper for every single assignment,” said senior Jeff Nero. “They also are helpful for students who do not have access to computers outside of school.”

In a Google form sent out by The Pirates’ Hook, students answered questions about returning to digital assignments.

“I want everyone to have Chromebooks so our assignments can go back to being online so they’re easier to keep up with and can be graded faster,” wrote sophomore Timothy Arthur.

There are a few chromebook carts that roll around the school. Teachers can reserve them for the day so students can complete online assignments on those days.

Some students are frustrated with how this situation has been handled. Many students think computers are vital to completing assignments effectively and are angry with how long it’s taken to receive them.

“It’s disappointing how the administration kept students, staff, and teachers in the dark during this situation,” said junior Shakam Simpson.

Principal Dr. Woods Weeks sent parents updates in November.

“If all logistics fall into place as planned, we anticipate distribution to begin on November 18, 2024,” said Woods-Weeks in an email to parents.

But just before distribution was set to begin, media coordinator Tara Gold sent an email informing staff that they had to pause the plans.

“We opened up the back of the computers and found bedbugs and roaches in the motherboard” said media coordinator Tara Gold “We found the “patient zero” computer which had the nest of bugs we think the outbreak originated from.”

At a school improvement team (SIT) meeting it was decided that instead of sending computers home, the school would use chromebook carts that could be wheeled to classrooms.

Members of the SIT team were given two choices for how to distribute computers to students. Option one was that chromebook carts would be kept in classrooms with an option for students to use a check out system to get computers from the media center. Option two was that computers would be assigned to students and they would be able to be taken home.

Nine of the ten SIT representatives voted for option one.

Although the carts give students access to computers, there are some issues that remain.

First, 1095 chromebooks were sanitized and 450 chargers were collected. Those numbers aren’t enough for each of Riverside’s 1900+ students to have a dedicated computer.

Another problem is that in the past the district hasn’t allowed chromebook carts to stay overnight in the trailer classrooms. That means that if a trailer teacher wanted to do online assignments they would have to wheel out the cart every morning and afternoon.

The SIT team addressed these problems during its November meeting.

“We know that this is not the ideal solution for everyone, and we are also hopeful that we are meeting everyone’s needs,” said English teacher Emily Ericson, who is the SIT team chair, in an email to staff.

As of December 10, there are 10 carts of laptops available. Many will be used for testing during the final weeks of the semester.

Many students hope to receive devices in the spring.

“The system is built around them,” said senior Joshua Savage. “They’re a necessity.”