Budget Cuts Hamper Access to Chromebooks
On March 13th, 2024 it was confirmed that the Nutley Board of Education was missing $7 million due to financial and accounting issues. Following this revelation, many changes have been made to our school system to compensate for the sudden loss of money, and some of these changes have had detrimental effects on students’ education.
Upon returning to school for the 24-25 school year students were stunned to discover the absence of loaner Chromebooks. In previous years, loaner Chromebooks were needed very frequently, and were always available whenever a student had a problem with their Chromebooks. This is why it comes as such a surprise that loaner Chromebooks were one of the things that the Board of Education decided to cut as part of their new budget.
Chromebooks are an integral part of our curriculum, as they are used frequently in most classes. In English class they are needed to read articles and type stories. In Math they are used to submit problems and take tests. In Science they are needed for notes and research. In History they are used for projects and essays. Today, Chromebooks are arguably our most used tool in class, and that is why it is absolutely baffling that some students now do not have access to them.
Ever since the big budget cut, whenever a student’s Chromebook is malfunctioning or damaged they must remain without a Chromebook until their original one returns from the repair shop. If they do not have another device at home for them to use in class -- and many don’t -- they fall behind on their work. Whatever is there for them on paper, they do, but what about all the rest: the tests, homework, notes, projects, and essays? That's all left for them to do once they get their Chromebooks back.
It's understandable that the Nutley Board of Education is forced to make budget cuts, and it's understood that things cost money, but why our Chromebooks? This money loss should be managed better, and students hope that the Board will consider bringing back loaner Chromebooks to the schools.
