Knoxville High School may soon be letting students use their own technological devices in class.
The District 202 School Board approved Monday night on first reading a pilot program for students to use their own items like laptops or tablets in class for instructional use.
Even smart phones would be allowed.
Superintendent Steve Wilder says the board and administration decided high school students can be trusted to take care of their devices.
Students will be steered to login to the school’s network for Internet access and of course will face disciplinary consequences if caught abusing the program.
Wilder feels that in general, school technology is headed in the direction where students will be allowed to bring their personal devices.
He tells WGIL this does come with challenges.
“But there are some challenges. If the device breaks at school and it’s the students personal device they’re ultimately responsible for that and that can be difficult,” Wilder says.
There’s a tech fee that Knoxville collects at the beginning of the school year but since the pilot is optional Wilder has recommended that that fee not be refunded at this time.
Those fees Wilder says not only cover the district provided devices but technology infrastructure.
