Dr. Lisha Cabral, Superintendent
50 Oliver St.
North Easton, MA 02356
For Immediate Release
Friday, Jan. 25, 2019
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Easton Public School District Pilot Wi-Fi Hot Spot Program a Success
EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral is pleased to announce that a new program that allows students to borrow Wi-Fi hot spot devices and Chromebooks from the district has been a success so far this school year.
This fall, the district launched a pilot program to provide students access to technology at home, and added 10 Kajeet Wi-Fi hot spot devices and 10 Google Chromebooks to the library at Oliver Ames High School. Students can borrow a Wi-Fi hot spot device, a Chromebook, or both for up to a month.
The devices are intended for any student that might not have access to Wi-Fi or a device that they can use for homework after school. A Wi-Fi hot spot device may be used by a student who does not have an internet connection at home, for example, or even by a student who wants to work on homework on a bus ride to an after school activity.
“We started this program because we wanted to make sure every one of our students has access to the technology they need to be successful after school,” Cabral said. “These devices are available for any student that may need them, and we’re glad to see students have been borrowing them from the library.”
It cost the district $2,000 to purchase the 10 Wi-Fi hot spots, and the district did not have to purchase any new Chromebooks for the program. Instead, the district used devices that had aged out of its technology replacement program but are still in working shape.
Students can only use the devices for homework, however. The Wi-Fi hot spot devices are programmed to block gaming websites and Netflix.
Due to the popularity of the program, some Wi-Fi hot spot devices are now also available at Richardson-Olmsted Elementary School.
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