Chromebooks, tablets on back order for ORR district

Sep 14, 2020

MATTAPOISETT — Currently, the Old Rochester Regional School District has 1,700 Chromebook laptops for students to use, with approximately 550 more Chromebooks and about 550 tablets on the way.

Superintendent Michael Nelson said at a Sept. 14 Mattapoisett School Committee that the Chromebooks and tablets the district ordered are on backorder and won’t be here until early to mid-October, possibly later.

Though there may be a backorder, Nelson said he feels confident that every student from grades 2 to 8 can have a device to use.

“We’re trying to get as much mileage as possible” with the technology available, he said.

One offset that will help the lack of technology is the allowance of high school students to use their own devices. This will allow resources to be allocated elsewhere in the district.

At the elementary level, district parents favored the use of tablets for their children in surveys.

With those on back order as well, Nelson said the district is allowing students to use their own tablets too.

Committee Vice Chair Carly Lavin asked if the district has a contingency plan in place in the meantime for elementary school students.

Nelson said the district will use Chromebooks in place of tablets until they come in.