Refreshed Devices

The district has started the process of putting Chromebooks on a "refreshed" life cycle. This means a few minor functionality changes (no docked stylus and no world facing camera). We understand concerns and would like to address these below:

• We understand students have become accustomed to their original devices, but these are end of life.  District cannot guarantee support for original devices due to spare parts going out of production, accumulation of wear-and-tear.

• Utmost effort has been made to provide students with the most similar device currently available on the market (at reasonable cost and delivery time) to minimize disruption to workflow.

• Manufacturer has made changes to model and certain degree of adaptation will be necessary.

  • Cases are on backorder and will be supplied to students as soon as we receive them

  • Lenovo has phased out the keyboard camera as a standard feature for this series of devices. Requesting optional feature would add to cost and slow down delivery even further. Most if not all functions can be performed by main camera.

  • Lenovo has also phased out original type of stylus for 500e.  New version is double the price, and must be recharged.  Early reviews poor (easily broken). Deemed unfeasible for organizational use.

    • District announced support for stylus replacement ended Sept 2022.

    • Original styluses very frequently lost and damaged, replacement burden of new version at $40+ per unit too high for district and parents

    • Most stylus functionality can be reproduced with cheap generic one on touchscreen. Here is an example at 1/6th the price of original stylus, can be carried with students’ pens and pencils:  https://a.co/d/5ec6iic

  • District will not reissue old devices to already refreshed grades but tech will provide support and workarounds for any students struggling to adapt.  Requests for assistance can be made to permanent Chromebook support link: www.bit.ly/kosdtech or at kiosk in HS library.

  • Whole district will be on refreshed devices in the next couple of school years, elementary students already using successfully with few to no reported issues.