Ahead of the start of school, Georgetown ISD will begin distributing technology Aug. 13.
“We know starting this year with three weeks of at-home (remote) instruction will be different, but we are committed to ensuring you have the technology you need to log in and engage in learning everyday with your teachers and fellow students,” GISD Superintendent Fred Brent said in an Aug. 11 newsletter to parents.
Device checkout will run from Aug. 13 to Sept. 9 for students who do not have or do not wish to use their personal devices. While personal devices can be used for remote learning, it needs to have internet access, the Chrome web browser and a webcam, if possible, it said.
Those seeking a device should look for an email from their campus that will provide a link where they can sign up for a time to pick up their device. Sign-up times are on weekdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Aug. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Technology will be distributed at the four middle schools—Benold, Tippit, Wagner and Forbes. Families are asked to go to the middle school that aligns with their feeder pattern.
Those who also need a Wi-Fi hot spot should also indicate so on their form, it said.
Students in prekindergarten and Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities through first grade and students in Integrated Learning Classroom will be issued an iPad, which should be picked up prior to Aug. 20.
Students in second through 12th grades will be issued a Chromebook or laptop.
Students who borrowed technology in the spring and were permitted to keep it over the summer may continue to use the devices they already have. However, students in pre-K to first grade will need to return their Chromebooks in exchange for an iPad.
While the district expects to have a Chromebook for each student, it asked those who have devices at home to sign up for a later pickup date so families who do not have technology can receive a device prior to Aug. 20.
The district will continue to check out devices until every student has one, officials said.
“Our goal continues to be a one-to-one access district and as we return to in-person learning, every GISD student will have a GISD device to use at school and at home,” Brent said.
The first day of remote learning is Aug. 20. The first day of optional in-person classes is Sept. 10.
