More student technology, including internet access on school buses, will be part of the academic year that begins Wednesday for Vancouver Public Schools.
Vancouver’s rollout of one-to-one technology to students and instructors will continue this fall as fifth-graders begin using iPads.
Third- and fourth-grade teachers will receive devices and training to prepare for their students receiving iPads in the 2017-18 school year.
Vancouver school district students in grades six through 12 also will have managed access to the internet while traveling on school buses. Last winter, the district installed a Wi-Fi network on all of its buses to improve internet access for all students.
Approximately 160 bus routes were upgraded. The students will have the access for the extent of their bus ride. It will benefit at least 5,000 secondary students who ride a bus regularly and have district-issued one-to-one devices. The actual number of students and staff members who use the network likely will be higher.
“It will include students who are traveling to athletic and extracurricular events,” Pat Nuzzo, district spokeswoman, said.
Safety and security also is improved because the network allows remote, real-time access to cameras already installed on buses.
The Wi-Fi networks and one-to-one iPads are funded by a technology levy approved by local voters in 2013. It also implemented a Wi-Fi network on its mobile Family-Community Resource Center.
The district also is looking at another version of internet equity, expanding access for underserved students where they live. School officials are discussing the possibility of providing “hot spots” in areas around the community, Nuzzo said.
New this school year, students, teachers and families will not have to pay to receive coverage for damaged digital devices owned by the district. All non-intentional damage will be repaired at no cost (limit of two replacement iPad screens per user).
The replacement fine for lost or stolen devices is reduced to $99 for iPads and $199 for laptop computers. In the case of intentional or egregious damage or neglect by any user, actual repair or replacement costs will be levied.
Also around the district:
New faces
There will be an increase of almost 400 students in Vancouver classrooms during the 2016-17 school year. The projected enrollment is 23,087 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. This represents an increase over the enrollment of 22,696 students projected for fall 2015.
Almost 200 new educators will welcome the students Wednesday. Approximately 195 new certificated staff members, including teachers, counselors and psychologists, are joining district schools this year.
Possible bond
If approved by the school board, bond measure could be on the ballot as early as February 2017. The bond would fund upgrades at every school and replace several of the district’s oldest schools that exceed capacity and cannot support the requirements of 21st-century education. For more information, visit http://vansd.org/reschools.
Resource centers
This year, Hough and Truman elementary schools will debut Family-Community Resource Centers on their campuses.
They raise the number of school-based centers in the district to 18.
The centers provide services and information about community resources to address the broad range of student and family needs. Several locations will host free 1-2-3 Grow & Learn groups throughout the school year for children from birth to 5 years old and their parents. Educational Service District 112’s Grow & Learn groups provide focused parent-child time, socialization opportunities, school-readiness activities and snacks. A schedule of Grow & Learn groups in Vancouver schools will be posted on Vancouver school websites.
Future U
The inaugural district-wide Future U event will connect students of all ages and their families with representatives from trade schools, colleges and universities, military branches, unions and a variety of employers. The event will feature informational sessions on topics such as applying for scholarships and completing forms for federal aid.
The event is free for all Vancouver district students and their families.
Future U take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd. The sessions will include refreshments and activities for younger children.
Interpretation will be available for American Sign Language, Spanish, Russian and Chuukese, a language spoken in Micronesia.
