EAST LONGMEADOW – In a brief meeting of the East Longmeadow School Committee, members of the Committee reorganized to have a new Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. In addition, the group debated the optional Chromebook Insurance program for students to opt into or out of in the upcoming school year.

Gregory Thompson was named the Chair of the School Committee for the upcoming 2019–2020 school year. Formerly, Thompson served as the Vice Chair to Richard Freccero’s Chair.

“Thank you for a great year of leadership, well done, there were a lot of accomplishments here,” Thompson said to Freccero.

Additionally joining the group for her first School Committee meeting was Antonella Raschilla. Thompson welcomed her aboard.

Sarah Truoiolo was selected for the Vice Chair position on the School Committee for the upcoming year, and Superintendent Gordon Smith was asked to serve as the secretary.

Encompassing most of the discussion at the meeting was the optional Chromebook Insurance program for students. As the district moves into a one–to–one classroom, otherwise known as a district providing technology, which is generally in the form of a laptop or tablet for each student, the Committee has discussed an insurance program for students to protect them if large damages occur to their devices.

Staff members in the East Longmeadow Public Schools are currently under their own self–insurance plans for their school provided electronics. This plan for students would be similar, however in a separate account from the staff’s plan. Smith explained to the Committee that people are not required to participate in the insurance plan however they are strongly encouraging it as it will protect against accidental damage should the Chromebook be dropped, damaged or have liquid spill on it.

“First year with staff with laptops we had some liquid situations. Thankfully that’s sort of corrected itself. It’s worked well putting in $30 we’re able to handle most repairs and be able to provide a new Chromebook if necessary,” Smith explained the insurance program in regard to how it has worked for staff members thus far.

Furthermore, Smith explained that if a students laptop were to break unintentionally and they were enrolled in the insurance plan, it would cost the student/parent $50 for the total loss in addition to taking out the $30 for the insurance. However, if a laptop has minimal damages, including needing a new part or a charger to be replaced, it would be covered under the insurance.

Thompson stated that he felt this was confusing to tell people because “if something moderately catastrophic happens, they’ll still have to pay us,” he said.

Thompson continued to argue that if every student opted into the insurance plan for grades six through 12 for $30 a piece, as six through 12 will have laptops, that is roughly $35,000 in an account. “At $35,000 we could replace 125 machines and still be in the green…I don’t foresee us ruining one in 10 [laptops], so why the $50, I guess is my question?” Thompson asked.

Smith stated that having the extra $50, if the laptop in question cannot be repaired, would give them “a pool of money” to replace the laptop from.

“But won’t that insurance money be the same thing?” Thompson countered.

He then added, “We’re providing an educational tool like we would with anything else, and I guess if you had a textbook or something you would have to pay.” Thompson continued to explain that as long as parents are aware that if they do not opt into the insurance program, but their child opts into having a school-provided laptop, they must be aware that it is up to $250 to replace the Chromebook if they are not insured.

Insofar as the one to one program itself, students take out the laptop from school and are able to bring it home and to class for the entirety of the school year. Each summer, the student gives the laptop back. When students take out a laptop from the school, both parents and the students must sign off on the laptop. The same goes for the insurance program – a parent must sign off on that as well. Thompson stated this should be explained at parent’s nights.

The optional Chromebook Insurance plan for students for the 2019–2020 school year was approved 5–0.