Huntsville Student Laptops Ready For ‘Early Bird’ Pickup

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Students in Huntsville City Schools are adding a fourth “R” this year.  They’ll now learn reading, writing, arithmetic and ‘ram’.

Tuesday, Huntsville City Schools began the process of phasing out textbooks in exchange for computers.  Every student in grades 4 through 12 is being assigned their own laptop computer instead of multiple books.

“Kids that are growing up in this generation are exposed to technology everywhere they go,” said Keith Ward, spokesperson for Huntsville City Schools.  “Why should it stop when they enter the classroom when we basically say we are going to turn all the technology off?”

On Tuesday, some students and their parents showed up for an early bird pickup at a warehouse. School doesn’t start until Monday, August 20, so students can pick up the new computers early to see how the new online curriculum works.

“You know, it’s awesome.  You didn’t have that back in the day,” said Nylah Stroud, a rising junior at Columbia High School.

The distribution site is located at the Intergraph Warehouse at 289 Dunlop Boulevard, Building #300.  Workers are distributing the laptops and helping students learn how to use them.

Stroud’s mother Sonya didn’t have a laptop when she was in school.  However, she fully supports the new system and says she thinks all of the students will get a better education because of it.

“A lot less time in the library, but I think she has an opportunity to learn more now,” said Sonya Stroud.

Huntsville City Schools say the new computers will also save the system millions of dollars in decreased textbook costs.

If a student misplaces a laptop, each computer has a tracking device that will allow for it to be found quickly.  The laptops also have filtering systems on them to block students from visiting inappropriate websites.

Parents and students must sign a Computer Use Contract and pay a $35 user fee to help cover repairs and/or replacements.  This is payable by check or cash.  The school district will help make special accommodations for students who receive free and reduced lunch.

You, as a parent, might be wondering when your pickup day or time is.  The school system has outlined a plan, and schools are letting parents know through automated phone calls.  The pickup days go through Monday, August 13.

Those calls are going out all this week, so if you haven’t received one yet, you might get the call tonight or tomorrow night.

The pickup schedule is also posted on Huntsville City Schools’ website.

This is just earlybird pickup, though, so if you miss it, your child will get their computer at their school.

The laptops include a power cord and a carrying case.