1:1 FAQs

What devices do students receive?

• K-1st grade students will receive iPads
• 2nd-5th grade will have touch screen Chromebooks
• 6-12th graders will receive non touch Chromebooks. The specific device model is determined by grade level.

Who owns the device?

All iPads and Chromebooks referred to as “Student Devices” are the property of the Thompson School District. Students are responsible for the devices while they attend schools in TSD.

Why these devices?

I.T.S. engaged with several stakeholder groups to determine the best device and features for students. These conversations led to the decision to use iPads at the K-1 grades, touchscreen Chromebooks for grades 2-5 and non-touchscreen Chromebooks for grades 6-12. I.T.S. went out to RFP to establish a new vendor to support these changes. This information was evaluated by a committee that had teachers, Librarians, I.T.S. and leadership representatives to make the final decision. As a result, we reduced the many different models and options we previously supported to achieve more efficiency and sustainability of our 1:1 program.

Do all students receive a 1:1 device each school year?

Students will be issued a new device in grades K, 2, 6, and 9. They will keep those devices until they reach the next device deployment grade level. Devices will follow students as long as they are TSD students. If a student moves to a new TSD school, they should take their devices with them to the next TSD school.

What happens if the student transfers schools inside TSD?

Students should take their device with them to their new school, unless they are transferring to/from Thompson Online, in which case they should turn their device into their old school and receive a new one at their new school.

What happens if the student transfers to a school outside TSD?

Devices should be turned into the school or Support Services Center when the student leaves the district.

What is the new device model for 2nd, 6th and 9th grade students?

With changes to our 1:1 program, we are providing new devices at grade level bands.

Grade Level	Device
Kindergarten	iPads
2nd Grade	Lenovo Touch Screen Chromebook
6th & 9th Grade	Lenovo non-touch screen Chromebook
All other grades	Please see our information about devices at your school

What happens if my student forgets to bring their device to school?

If a student fails to bring their device to school, they are responsible for completing their course work as though they had their device with them. In many situations, schools may provide a loaner device. Check with your own school for any specific policies they may have related to this.

Can students bring in their own personal device instead of using the TSD provided device?

No. There are many benefits to having all students in a classroom using the same device.

• Consistent devices and instructional applications (some apps operate differently on personal devices) allow teachers the ability to provide more seamless instruction with fewer disruptions.
• Vetted instructional applications, along with a district management tool and district web filtering tools are installed on district devices.
• District management software gives TSD the ability to lock a device if it is lost or stolen.
• Classroom management software (Securly) works on district devices allowing the teacher to focus student browsing as needed. This allows classroom teachers to monitor device activities during school and keep students focused on the learning task. The district web filtering tools allow us to provide a safe environment for students on that device whenever they access the internet (at school or at home).
• Support and repair for these devices is available.
• Students must use a district device for state testing.
• TSD devices and apps are a part of the TSD curricular experience and Strive 2025 strategic plan. Please connect with your principal to discuss any concerns.

What happens if I break my device?

Students should alert their teacher to submit a repair ticket so their device can be fixed. Families can see the cost of repairs on our Repair Information page. Each school will be placing fines in Infinite Campus to cover the cost of the device repairs. 

What happens if the device is stolen or lost?

If a district device is lost the student's teacher should be immediately notified. The teacher will notify I.T.S. who will assist in trying to locate the device. If the device is unrecoverable, then the family may incur the costs of replacement. If a device is stolen, the same procedure will be followed with the addition of a police report being filed.

Will the Chromebooks be labeled, or marked, in a way that would make it easy for someone to return a lost laptop?

All district equipment has an asset tag attached to it with a unique number and the text “THOMPSON SCHOOL DISTRICT R2-J”. This tag can be used by I.T.S. to identify the device, where it belongs, and who has it checked out. In the case of student devices, the asset tag is placed on the bottom of Chromebooks and the back of iPads.

What happens if the student's device gets damaged?

The student should report damage immediately to their teacher. The teacher will fill out a Student Device Support ticket reporting the damage. School administration will determine whether the student should be charged for the repair.

If Chromebooks are being repaired, how will students still participate in class?

Schools will have a limited supply of replacement devices. In the event that a student device gets damaged and turned in for repair, the student will be issued a replacement (loaner) device. Any fines/costs for repair will be added to the student account.

I'm about to graduate. Can I keep my Tech4All device?

Yes! Graduating students are eligible to request to keep their device. To have your device removed from TSD's management systems and allow you to access your personal accounts, please have a guardian complete the Device Retention form in Infinite Campus.

What if we do not want the Chromebook at our home?

We want students to have access to learning at home and beyond the four walls of the school. This Chromebook is protected by Internet-filtering by our district, no matter its location, and our filtering software is likely more restrictive than other devices at home. Discuss this with your school's leader or librarian.

What if we don't have internet access at home?

Please visit our webpage that outlines low-cost internet provider options and how to utilize your student's device in "offline mode."

What restrictions will be set on the device by the district?

The district has purchased Securly Home App which gives families some control over filtering and monitoring while the device is at home.

Is it possible to set additional restrictions at home?

Yes. TSD employs two device management platforms and they both have a parent portal available. iPads are managed with Jamf Parent and Chromebooks are managed with Securly Home. Click the links for information on setting up and using these platforms at home.

How can I be sure that my student is using their device appropriately in or out of school?

Parents may have legitimate concerns about students using digital devices appropriately and responsibly. Some suggestions are included below.

• Communicate with the teachers. Ask what kinds of activities you should be expecting to see your child doing when using their device.
• Establish a homework area such as the kitchen rather than an isolated area. Check in with your student occasionally while they are using the device for homework.
• Set healthy digital habits by creating a charging area in a common room in your home (i.e., kitchen, family room) but not in the bedroom.
• Set usage limits. Even though the district is providing this wonderful learning tool, we appreciate and respect that families can and will set device usage boundaries for their student. Please see some digital citizenship resources for parents provided by our Library Services team.
• Set a time limit. Make a decision with your child that the device use needs to end at 8:00 p.m. each evening (or whatever time you feel is appropriate). Learn about Securly and how it can assist with this.