PERRYSBURG, OH (Toledo News Now) - Perrysburg Schools want to prepare their students for the 21st-century job force, but at what cost?
The district will be piloting a one-on-one technology program next year, which means students in grades 5-12 will be given a tablet or laptop. Some say this is unfair to taxpayers.
"Either you're broke, or you're swimming in money, and I don't think the taxpayers think the schools are swimming in money," said Todd Grayson, Perrysburg resident and city council member. "So why spend a million dollars you don't have on computers?"
Perrysburg Schools will be purchasing Samsung Chromebooks for fifth and eighth-graders, and Macbook Air laptops for ninth-graders as part of their one-on-one technology pilot.
Grayson says he doesn't see a reason for such an expensive laptop.
"There are laptops out in the market that are perfectly reasonable and functional, that I can use for my business as a professional salesman, for $300," he said. "And they want to go out and spend over $900 for a Macbook."
Superintendent Tom Hosler says the device is crucial for the education needs of students today.
"We live in a day where if we want kids to go home with 30-pound backpacks and learn in that way that we were taught, we're really doing a disservice to our kids," Hosler said.
They visited 12 schools that are currently partaking in the one-on-one technology pilot. They say along with their research, and their own use of Macs, they believe it's the way to go.
"When you look at the cost up front, they might not be as cheap," Hosler said. "But in terms of maintenance, the durability, the resistance to viruses and other kinds of things, we have found that's such a benefit."
