McKeesport Area School District: District approves insurance policy for electronic devices

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

The McKeesport Area school board took action last week to insure district-owned electronic devices that will be used by students next school year for school work and remote learning.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman explained during the meeting that accepting a district-owned 1:1 electronic device, such as a Google Chromebook or Apple iPad, for student use next school year will come with a $20 price tag to cover the costs of the insurance policy.

Board directors James Brown, Dave Donato, Diane Elias, Tom Filotei, Ivan Hampton, Steve Kondrosky, Jim Poston and President Joe Lopretto all voted in favor of approving a “One2One device insurance” policy through Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc. Director Mindy Sturgess cast the lone no vote.

Holtzman said the district is preparing to be able to issue a 1:1 device to all students in the 2021-22 school year. Students in kindergarten through second grade will continue to use iPads next year and other students will be issued Chromebooks, he said.

“Those devices will be property of the McKeesport Area School District, but will be utilized by our student body, so we have an insurance opportunity that’s going to be necessary for families and children to participate in case a device is broken or misplaced,” the superintendent said.

In discussion on the matter prior to the vote, Sturgess asked Holtzman to explain if and what the cost to families would be if the board approved the insurance policy arrangement.

“Everybody will be responsible for $20. Each student would be responsible for $20 to then receive their device under the insurance policy,” Holtzman said.

To read the rest of the story, please subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.