700 Chromebooks For D308 Students From Aurora School District 131

OSWEGO, IL — The Oswego School District 308 is going receive 700 Chromebooks on a temporary basis, for student use, from the East Aurora School District 131. According to a news release from D308 Wednesday, this "generous partnership" will ensure that remote learning can be completed without any interruptions.

"We are thankful to Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Norrell and the East Aurora School District Board of Education for this incredible opportunity to partner for the benefit of our students while we await the arrival of our new devices," Superintendent John Sparlin said. "This is another example of how communities have banded together to overcome obstacles during this difficult time."

The D308 Board of Education had approved a lease agreement that provides Chromebooks for all students in grades 5 - 12, known as 1:1 technology, at its Aug. 3 meeting. However, demand has exceeded availability of Chromebook devices amid the pandemic, and their availability has been delayed until November.

"Our Board of Education is grateful for the opportunity to partner with our neighboring district," Norrell said. "As superintendent I value the partnership I have developed with Dr. Sparlin, and while the learning environment has changed for everyone, this collaboration with Oswego 308 means that more students have access to remote learning."

During the Sept. 28 meeting of the OSD308 Board, it voted unanimously to approve the district's entrance into a Master Lease Agreement with the company American Capital, for the lease agreement, and to approve the lease of approximately 11,930 Chromebooks for the 1:1 program.

The district was also recently awarded about $1 million in state funds to help cover the costs of purchasing Chromebooks for the district's students. The funding was awarded through the Digital Equity Formula Grant, under the CARES Act, which directs federal funding to governors and state agencies to support a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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