New London Schools cut out the middle man

MT PLEASANT — Many families in the New London area will have technology they would not otherwise have, thanks to the creative and compassionate thinking of the New London Community School District.

The New London School District is replacing Chromebooks districtwide for next school year.

Approximately 500 Chromebooks are being sold for $25 at the district office, with chargers and computer bags, until 4 p.m. Thursday, June 23.

Anyone is welcome to buy the computers, but students, staff, and district families were given the opportunity to reserve the devices they used throughout last school year first.

According to Middle and High School Principal Scott Kracht, about half of the students reserved their devices to be picked up this week.

“We figured our families deserved first dibs on having them,” Kracht said.

“I think it is a pretty good steal,” incoming Senior La’nya Franklin said.

Franklin is excited to use the computer of her very own at home and when she heard about the deal, it was a no brainer.

While many schools set up contracts to sell their used devices back to the manufacturers for discounts on newer ones, New London Schools chose to pass the savings along to families in their communities.

According to District Technology Director Jon Munford, the district would get a similar price selling these back to the manufacturer, and because it is the community tax money buying them in the first place, the district would like to give their families this opportunity.

All of the money brought in from the computer sales will go right back into the technology funds for maintaining and purchasing technology.

“The money has to go back into the fund it came from,” Munford said.

“The best use for these [Chromebooks] is for kids, particularly families who do not have enough devices for kids,” Munford said. “We rather get them into our people’s hands instead of selling them for a little bit more where we would get them to fewer families.”

According to Munford, they are a very good deal.

“The elementary ones are kept on a cart so they are well taken care of, and the ones from the high school are fixed throughout the year by the school so they’re in pretty good condition,” Munford said.

The overall feeling in the district office was jovial, as people entered with smiles and left with even wider smiles and computers in hand.

Kracht, Munford, and Elementary Principal Todd Palmatier happily facilitated the distribution of the computers.

“There aren’t many people here during the summer, so it’s nice to see people,” Palmatier said.

With this affordable option for families, it appears that New London School District’s heart beat is really for people.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com