Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
Mars Area High School will provide each student in Grades 9-12 with a District-issued electronic device to be used in school and at home for educational purposes, in accordance with District Policy 237 Electronic Devices & Personal Technology Resources and District Policy 815 Acceptable Use of Internet, Computers & Network Resources.
Note: All Mars Area High School students are required to have either a District-issued device or an approved personal BYOT device. All devices must be fully charged and brought to school each day.
The device being provided at Mars Area High School for the 2018-2019 School Year is a Microsoft Surface 3 and includes a keyboard and stylus pen with tip kit. Mars Area High School parent(s)/student will have the option to purchase the District-issued device or to pay an annual technology fee of $100 for a District-issued device. The District highly recommends that each student purchase his/her own case in order to better protect the device from damage. In the event that a student’s District-issued device cannot be used or is in need of repair, the student will not be issued another device. All content will be made available for students on any registered BYOT or personal device, if needed.
REQUIRED FORM COMPLETION VIA FAMILYID- August 6th- August 17th
This year, students and parents/guardians will have to review and sign the required District technology forms electronically through FamilyID- https://www.familyid.com/mars-area-technology-department/mars-area-school-district-technology-2018-2019 during the week of August 6th-August 17th. Those students and parents/guardians who DO NOT sign the forms electronically will be required to PRINT, SIGN, DATE and submit all forms to the main office. Parents who do not have access to the Internet may complete the forms and pay their fee in the school’s main office. Students who do not present signed forms and/or payment will not receive a District-issued device.
ALL MARS AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST REVIEW AND SUBMIT a signed “District-Issued Student Device Guidelines” form, “District-Issued Student Device (Grades 9-12) Purchase/Payment Options” form along with the “Bring Your Own Technology Student Guidelines,” all of which are included as attachments to District Policy 237 Electronic Devices & Personal Technology Resources. These forms are all available on FamilyID for your review and signature.
ALL MARS AREA STUDENTS (K-12) AND A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST ALSO REVIEW AND SUBMIT a signed “Computer Networks/Internet Use Student Agreement” form, which is included as an attachment to District Policy 815 Acceptable Use of Internet, Computers & Network Resources. This form is also available on FamilyID for your review and signature.
PURCHASE PAYMENT
Parent(s)/student(s) may purchase the District-issue device at the beginning of any school year. The purchase price will be determined based upon the actual retail value of the device at the time of purchase; will be re-computed for each school year based upon the replacement cost of the device; and will be due at the beginning of the corresponding school year. The total purchase price for the 2018-2019 School Year is $375.
When a parent(s)/student purchases the used device, the device will become the property of that parent(s)/student. The parent(s)/student will need to return a damaged device directly to a Microsoft Store for repair and/or exchange. If the device is lost or stolen or is damaged, whether accidentally or intentionally, the parent(s)/student will be solely responsible for the actual cost to repair or replace the device.
ANNUAL PAYMENT
Any Mars Area High School parent(s)/student who is not purchasing the device is required to make an annual payment of $100 in order for the student to be permitted to take a District-issued device home. Payment is required by September 15th of the corresponding school year. Payment will be accepted online until August 17th or checks may be made payable to “Mars Area School District” and may be turned into the appropriate school’s main office. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs are exempt from paying the annual fee.
The District will return any damaged District-issued devices to Microsoft on a weekly basis. The student may be without a District-issued device during the repair period. (The cost to replace a stylus pen and/or keyboard will be determined by the actual retail price of comparable replacement items. The parent(s)/ student may return a damaged District-issued device directly to any Microsoft Store for repair and/or exchange.
NO PAYMENT
If the Mars Area High School parent(s)/student does not purchase the device or does not pay the $100 fee, the student will be issued a District device for use during the school day. The student will not be permitted to take the device home and must check his/her device in/out each day at a designated area within the High School. Students who do not pay the $100 annual fee and accidentally and/or intentionally damage the District-issued device will be held financially responsible for the full repair and/or replacement cost.
DISTRICT-ISSUED DEVICE DISTRIBUTION
Students who have paid their annual $100 technology fee on or before Friday, August 17th, will receive their device on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 29th. Students who complete the forms and pay the fee after Friday, August 17th, will receive their device during homeroom as soon as possible. Student devices and equipment will be returned to the students in the same envelope in which they were placed when they were collected at the end of the 2017-2018 School Year.
REGISTERING BYOT DEVICES
All BYOT devices, including cell phones that require access to school Internet, must be registered online at http://wiki.marsk12.org/byot/ prior to the start of school on Wednesday, August 29th. Devices that are not registered with the District will not be permitted to access the District’s network.
For more information about the District’s One-to-One (1:1) Technology Program; Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Program; or to view District Policy 237 or District Policy 815, visit www.marsk12.org. Specific questions regarding District-issued device distribution may be directed to Mrs. Lindsay Rosswog, Principal, at (724) 625-1581. Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lindsay Rosswog
Principal- Mars Area High School
[email protected]