Hempfield Area orders more Chromebooks, still waiting for order placed in July

The Hempfield Area School Board is adding more Chromebooks to its collection as students continue to attend classes through a mix of in-person and virtual learning.

During Monday’s board meeting, members voted unanimously to purchase 750 Chromebook laptop computers, which will be split between high school freshman and elementary students. In all, the order cost $170,000 from New York-based Y & S Technologies. The purchase will utilize CARES Act funding.

According to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, 500 100e Gen2 Chromebooks were ordered for next year’s incoming freshmen. An additional 250 300e 2-in-1 Chromebooks will be utilized by elementary students. District officials said they are hopeful the 250 Chromebooks will arrive for use this year.

Additional Chromebooks ordered earlier this year could also arrive this month. District leaders placed the almost $212,650 order with Y & S Technologies in July for 830 touch-screen Chromebooks. According to Wolicki, part of that order is in Pennsylvania, but it is not clear when it will arrive at the district.

Brandon Wagner, director of technology for the district, said there is “no firm timeline” for when the 750 Chromebooks would arrive.

Districts across the country have been facing longer wait times for computers to arrive after many scrambled this summer to place orders as the pandemic caused the possibility that students would learn virtually throughout the year.

In August, an Associated Press article found the three biggest computer companies — Lenovo, HP and Dell — told school districts they had a shortage of about 5 million laptops.

At Hempfield, Chromebooks have been distributed to secondary students, who are attending classes through a hybrid model, or a mix of in-person and online learning. Elementary students only receive devices for home use if the district moves to virtual learning. During those times elementary students are encouraged to use personal devices, if possible.

Once the devices that were ordered in July arrive, elementary students will receive one to take home in case classes would move online.