Sidney School board approves new Chromebook purchases

SIDNEY – The Sidney Board of Education approved purchasing Hewlett-Packard Chromebooks for elementary students. 

The move was made during Monday’s board of Education meeting. 

Elementary School Principal Bryan Schoening said the move is a combination of needing upgraded computers and devices that appear more educational than games. 

“In second grade we have iPads. They’ve been there for a long time, and they’re to the point they don’t update anymore. And, as we look across our higher elementaries, fifth and sixth grade in particular, I don’t think that our kids are as fluent a typers as they probably should be at that grade. And we’re getting in our tech classes and stuff we’re doing, typing and stuff, out of classes making sure we meet our standards there, and I just don’t think they’re quite where they need to be,” he said. 

Schoening said the elementary schools are at a point they are ready to upgrade technology as well. 

The board approved the purchase of 100 HP Chromebooks not to exceed $45,000.