West Aurora School District 129 student registration fees will cover technology insurance for student-issued devices beginning next school year.
The West Aurora School Board recently decided to cover the cost of technology insurance in student registration fees across all grade levels, school district officials said.
“We decided to add this fee in to make it simpler for everyone and because technology is now one-to-one across the district,” Assistant Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith said.
The district in 2015 launched a technology pilot program that was eventually turned into a three-year initiative to provide access to technology devices to all students.
“We are taking the approach that much like a textbook, students will not be responsible for normal wear and tear but only for deliberately damaged or lost devices,” she said.
Normal wear and tear will be covered as part of the fee and only malicious damage or loss will be subject to a charge, similar to how textbook damage is treated, school officials said.
The fees can be waived for families who qualify.
Families in 2016 were required to pay a separate $25 insurance fee to cover the devices that were taken home. Currently students can take home the student-issued Chromebooks and iPads and insurance is optional. The insurance will now be part of the registration fee, school officials said.
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, student registration fees for elementary students will increase from $100 to $125, for middle school students from $150 to $175 and high school students from $200 to $225.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
