New laptop program introduced

by Mike Masiarz
Staff Writer

The Media Center now owns 20 laptops that are available for students to use for free. Recently, a new program was introduced in which laptops are offered for weekly rentals, and students have already started taking advantage of this opportunity.

The laptops are not only allowed to be used in the Media Center, but they can also be brought home and used off of school grounds. The laptops include software such as Microsoft Office and are capable of connecting to the Internet. The Media Center asks that the laptops are only used for school assignments.

According to Media Center specialist Ms. Sherman a lot of students have already started borrowing laptops.

“It is a great investment and allows for each child to have an easier way of doing [his or her] school work,” she said.

Freshman Chris Kober said, “It’s a good opportunity for kids who don’t have computers at home, and [it] could benefit Westhill in many ways But they must realize that this new project could turn bad if laptops begin missing.” According to Kober, he has daily access to a computer, but if his computer was broken he would ask to borrow one from the Media Center.

Although some students are worried that the laptops will get stolen or lost, Media Center Specialist Ms. Lopez is not too worried. “[The laptops] are locked in the back room in the Media Center and it would be hard to break in and steal them,” she said.

The Media Center has a very strict policy on returning these laptops on time. A waiver is signed by students before they rent the laptops that states that the students are responsible for them. If there are any damages or if the computers go missing, the school will no cover the cost. Waivers are available at the front desk in the Media Center and have to be signed by the students and his or her parent or guardian as well. Also, for every day the laptop is handed in late, the student is charged a fee of $1.

However, there are kids in school who still haven’t heard of this new program or gotten the chance to use the laptops.

“This is something completely new to me. I have never heard of this before, it hasn’t really been advocated in the Media Center or in school. However, I think it would benefit Westhill in that students who don’t have the opportunity to use such technologies at home will get a chance to and, as a result, [they can] improve their grades in school,” junior Kirsten Eirksen said.

The program has been around for over 12 years. Head Media Center Specialist Ms. Benedict said, “This program has been in existence for a while, but new Dell Mini’s were ordered recently–ten last year, ten this year. The Media Center was able to afford these laptops by using money from their Media Center budget.