SHAWNEE, Kan. — Tuesday was the first day of school for thousands of kids in the Shawnee Mission School District, and this year, the schools are going digital. And as part of this new learning initiative, many students will be getting their own iPads.
While tablets will be available at every school, they will be given to every student at ten differs elementary schools in the district, including Ray Marsh near 55th and Rosehill in Shawnee.
The students at the remaining 23 elementary schools will share iPads and MacBooks in the classroom, and then next year, the district will purchase enough computers and tablets to make sure every single student in the district has their own.
Of course, security is a concern, making sure these kids don’t get on inappropriate websites.
And with so many kids already immersed in technology at home, some parents aren’t big fans of seeing their kids depending on iPads instead of pen and paper to learn, however the district says those will not be phased out.
Many teachers have said they are actually struggling to adapt to this new technology.
In addition, the Shawnee Mission schools have reduced their fees this year. With many low income families in the district struggling to pay them, the district lowered the fees totaling close to a million dollars total.