Chromebook 1:1
In order to provide better access to technology, Eden Valley-Watkins School District has rolled out a 1:1 Chromebook initiative for all Secondary students in grades 7-12.
Each student in grades 7-12 will be provided a school issued Chromebook at no charge. This Chromebook is theirs to keep during the school year while they are enrolled at Eden Valley-Watkins School district. Before we are able to distribute a Chromebook to your student, there are a few tasks to take care of. Chromebooks will be redistributed each year as follows.
Students entering 5th grade and 9th grade will receive a new Chromebook that will be assigned to them for four years.
Students will receive their school-issued Chromebooks during their scheduled Tech Night in August after the online survey and paperwork has been completed and turned in. Paperwork can be brought to the scheduled time listed below.
First, please read our Chromebook Insurance and frequently asked questions below before getting started. Secondly, complete the Chromebook Insurance Online Form. Lastly, the EVW Loaner Device Agreement will need to be completed, signed by both the student and parent/guardian, and returned to school during the following scheduled Tech Night prior to your student receiving their issued Chromebook device.
Tech Night at the High School JP Gym
Tuesday - August 22, 2023 Thursday - August 24, 2023
7th Grade from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm 10th Grade from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
8th Grade from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm 11th Grade from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
9th Grade from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm 12th Grade from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Chromebook Insurance
Parents have the option of paying for device insurance on their child(ren)'s Chromebook(s). Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended. If you have more than one child in grades 7-12, you will have to pay separate insurance on each of their devices if you choose to purchase it. Insurance survey will need to be completed prior to the distribution of your child(ren)'s Chromebooks.
Cost per device:
The cost of the insurance policy is $20 per year.
If you have an issue paying for the policy, but still wish to take a policy out, please contact Dave Schneider, our secondary school principal, at 320-453-2900 x1141 or by email at dschneider@evw.k12.mn.us
Deductible Claims
Any issues with the device that are determined to not be caused by the user (manufacturer's defects) will be fixed without a claim
If the issue was caused by the user, a claim will be created and will follow the schedule below
$0 for first claim
$50 for second claim
$100 for third claim
Full cost of device ($250) for any claim after the third
Claim counts reset each academic year.
What does the insurance cover?
Accidental damage
Hardware issues
What doesn't the insurance cover?
Lost devices
Stolen devices
Liquid damage
Any issues caused by the intentional abuse or misuse of the device
Do I have to sign anything?
Yes, there is a form to sign to indicate whether you wish to purchase the policy or not. You can CLICK HERE to access the online version.
When and where can the insurance be purchased?
Returning student families are only able to purchase the insurance policy at the beginning of the school year
New families to the school district will have the opportunity to purchase insurance for their student's Chromebook within one week of their student starting classes
What else do I need to know about the insurance program?
If your child withdraws from our school district, the fee paid is non-refundable
If your child withdraws from our school district but re-enrolls later in the year, the insurance takes effect in the same state it was when the child left the district
If a Chromebook is in for repair, a loaner Chromebook will be checked out to your child until their original device is repaired
Chromebook Insurance Online Form
Visit the Chromebook Insurance Online Form by clicking HERE.
Read through the form and fill it out online. This form will let us know whether you accept or deny the Chromebook insurance policy we have available for purchase. You can pay for the Chromebook insurance by cash (exact amount please), check (written to EVW ISD 463), or online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal using SchoolPay. Please note we need a form for each of your children.
Chromebook Training
Students will receive regular training to address care and usage of the Chromebook as well as usage of Google Apps (evw.k12.mn.us Accounts). Regular Digital Citizenship training will also be provided during the school year to address respectful, responsible, and ethical use of the internet and digital tools.
Chromebook Care & Usage
Students are responsible for the general care of the Chromebook which they have been issued by the school. Chromebooks that are broken or fail to work properly must be taken to the media center or PC Lab. If a loaner Chromebook is needed, one will be issued to the student until their Chromebook can be repaired or replaced.
General Precautions
No food or drink should be next to your Chromebook while it is in use.
Cords, cables, and removable storage devices must be inserted carefully into the Chromebook.
Students should never carry their Chromebook while the screen is open unless directed to do so by a teacher.
Chromebooks should not be used or stored near pets.
Chromebooks should not be used with the power cord plugged in when the cord may be a tripping hazard.
Chromebooks must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers, or labels.
Chromebooks should be shut down when not in use to conserve battery life.
Chromebooks should never be shoved into a locker or wedged into a book bag as this may break the screen.
Heavy objects should never be placed on top of Chromebooks.
Do not expose your Chromebook to extreme temperature or direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Extreme heat or cold may cause damage to the Chromebook.
Always bring your Chromebook to room temperature prior to turning it on.
Carrying Chromebooks
Always transport Chromebooks with care.
Never lift Chromebooks by the screen.
Never carry Chromebooks with the screen open.
Screen Care
The Chromebook screen can be damaged if subjected to heavy objects, rough treatment, some cleaning solvents, and other liquids. The screens are particularly sensitive to damage from excessive pressure.
Do not put pressure on the top of a Chromebook when it is closed.
Do not store a Chromebook with the screen open.
Make sure there is nothing on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, or disks).
Only clean the screen with a soft, dry microfiber cloth or anti-static cloth.
Using Your Chromebook
Students are expected to bring a fully charged Chromebook to school every day and bring their Chromebooks to all classes unless specifically advised not to do so by their teacher.
If a student does not bring his/her Chromebook to school
Just like Pens & Notebooks, Students are expected to bring their Chromebook to school every day.
In the event a student forgets his/her Chromebook – Students should call home and have it brought to School.
If it cannot be brought to school, a limited amount of devices may be available for the student to borrow for the class period from the Media Center or PC Lab.
Documentation of the number of times a loaner is issued to each student for not having his/her own Chromebook at school will be provided to administration for students who have excessive occurrences during the school year.
Chromebooks being repaired
Loaner Chromebooks may be issued to students when they leave their school-issued Chromebook for repair.
A student borrowing a Chromebook must sign a loaner agreement and will be responsible for any damage to or loss of the loaned device.
Chromebooks on loan to students having their devices repaired may be taken home.
The Technology staff will contact students when their devices are repaired and available to be picked up.
Charging Chromebooks
Chromebooks must be brought to school each day with a full charge.
Students should charge their Chromebooks at home every evening.
The School WILL NOT have chargers available to check out. If a student loses their charger, they can purchase one at school for $50.
Personalizing the Chromebook
Chromebooks must remain free of any decorative writing, drawing, stickers, paint, tape, or labels that are not the property of the Eden Valley-Watkins Public Schools. Spot checks for compliance will be done by administration, teachers, paras, and technology support staff at any time.
Students may add appropriate music, photos, and videos to their Chromebook. Personalized media are subject to inspection and must follow the Eden Valley-Watkins Public Schools acceptable use policy.
Sound
Sound must be muted at all times unless permission is obtained from a teacher.
Headphones may be used at the discretion of the teachers.
Printing
Students will be encouraged to digitally publish and share their work with their teachers and peers when appropriate.
Students may set up their home printers with the Google Cloud Print solution to print from their Chromebooks at home. Information about Google Cloud Print can be obtained here.
OR
Students may print from their Chromebook to a designated printer in the media center.
Logging into a Chromebook
Students will log into their Chromebooks using their school-issued Google Workspace for Education (@evw.k12.mn.us) account.
Students should never share their account passwords with others. In the event of a compromised account the Eden Valley-Watkins Public Schools reserves the right to disable your account.
Using Your Chromebook Outside of School
Students are encouraged to use their Chromebooks at home and other locations outside of school.
A Wi-Fi Internet connection will be necessary for the majority of Chromebook use; however, some applications can be used while not connected to the Internet. Students are bound by the Eden Valley-Watkins Public Schools Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement, and all other guidelines mentioned on this site wherever they use their Chromebooks.
Chromebook Operating System & Security
Students may not use or install any operating system on their Chromebook other than the current version of Chrome OS that is supported and managed by the district.
No Expectation of Privacy
Students should have no expectation of confidentiality or privacy with respect to any usage of a Chromebook, regardless of whether that use is for district-related or personal purposes, other than as specifically provided by law. The district may, without prior notice or consent, log, supervise, access, view, monitor, and record use of student Chromebooks at any time for any reason related to the operation of the district. By using a Chromebook, students agree to such access, monitoring, and recording of their use.
Monitoring Software
Teachers, school administrators, and the technology department staff may use monitoring software that allows them to view the screens and activity on student Chromebooks.
Updates
The Chromebook operating system, Chrome OS, updates itself automatically. Students do not need to manually update their Chromebooks.
Virus Protection
Chromebooks use the principle of “defense in depth” to provide multiple layers of protection against viruses and malware, including data encryption and verified boot.
There is no need for additional virus protection.
Content Filter
The district utilizes an Internet content filter that is in compliance with the federally mandated Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). While on premise, All Chromebooks, will have all Internet activity protected and monitored by the district. While at home, All Chromebooks will enforce Google’s Safe Search features as well as filtering for illegal and obscene content.
Inspection
Students may be selected at random to provide their Chromebook for inspection. The purpose for inspection will be to check for proper care and maintenance as well as inappropriate material being carried into the school.
FAQs
Does the school still offer the Best Buy BYOD $100 Voucher?
No. The school district has made the decision to move away from the previous BYOD initiative and moved to a 1:1 device model with Chromebooks for students in grade 2-12.
Will the Chromebooks stay at school each night?
No. All students grades 7-12 will have the ability to take it home every day.
How long will my student get to keep their Chromebook?
Moving forward, each student entering 5th grade and 9th grade will get a new device. That means that 5th graders will have their device until the end of 8th grade and will turn them in at the end of each year. They will then receive a new device in 9th grade and keep it until the end of 12th grade and will turn them in at the end of each year.
Can I buy the Chromebook(s) my child(ren) will be using outright?
No. The student's Chromebook is then not owned by the school district in this case and issues will be run into with maintenance which will affect state testing (which is performed on Chromebooks). Insurance would also not be able to be taken out on the device.
What will happen to the Chromebooks taken out of rotation?
A majority of them will go to be used at our elementary school.
Will there be help available during school hours if my child has an issue with their Chromebook?
Yes. A help desk is available in the High School Media Center and the PC lab.
What if we can’t afford the insurance?
If you wish to take out insurance but cannot afford the full price, please contact the secondary school principal.
Do I have to get the insurance?
No, but the replacement cost is $250.
What does the insurance cover exactly?
Any accidental or mechanical issues, except accidents involving liquid spills.
Can I purchase the insurance during the school year?
No. Insurance will only be able to be purchased during the time period starting with registration and going through the day before device distribution. If you enroll your child into the school district during the school year, you will have one week to purchase the insurance if you so choose to do so.
What if my child already has their own device?
Students will not be allowed to bring in a personal device.
Do we have the bandwidth necessary?
Yes. Our networking infrastructure has also recently been upgraded to support the additional devices as part of this initiative. We also have an Internet bandwidth of 1 gigabit per second to ensure all academic tools being used have the speed they need.
Will the devices be filtered?
Yes, everything on the Chromebook is filtered to CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) standards.
What if I don’t have Internet at home?
Nearly all of the material can be accessed offline. The student downloads the file at school before the end of the day and is able to use it in the same way as being online. Chromebooks also sync Google Drive files so anything in a student's Google Drive is available offline. Common areas at the secondary building are also covered by our wireless that can be accessed after school releases. There are also free Wi-Fi hotspots available around the city or your student can check out a Kajeet SmartSpot device from the HS Media Center. Please click here to learn more.
How will they get charged?
Students will be required to come to school each day with the device fully charged. Chargers will not be encouraged at school as they get lost and left behind too frequently and spare chargers are around $50. The battery life will easily make it through a school day.
Theft Issues
All Chromebooks have an administrative function called "brick mode" which completely locks a device until we unlock it again. If a Chromebook goes missing, students will report it to us and we will put it in "brick mode" until we recover the device. This nearly eliminates all issues with theft because the device is no longer worth anything and is rendered useless. There is also less chance of theft as each student has the same device.