CHESAPEAKE, W.Va. — Students and teachers at Chesapeake Elementary School are the first in Kanawha County to receive newly refurbished computers from the state Department of Education.
The school participated in Second Launch WV, which is a program that includes the recycling and refurbishing of over $2 million worth of computers and other equipment to schools in several counties
State School Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano and others were at the school Wednesday morning to present 20 computers, five notebooks and four laser printers to be used in all classrooms.
“Our goal with this program is to ensure that all students have the resources they need to be successful in the 21st century world of learning,” said Martirano in a news release.
Marianne Annie, principal of Chesapeake Elementary School, agreed.
“It’ll really give the kids more access to technology,” she said.
Annie said today’s kids know that everything is done with technology now, so they want to keep up with the times.
“All the kids are familiar with cell phones and iPads. They’re already coming to school when they’re 4 or 5 years old knowing about technology, so we just have to keep that going,” she said.
Annie said they’ll use the devices for both enrichment and remediation programs.
“Let’s say a child was absent one day and they miss a lesson on adding fractions — you can put them on the computer while you’re working with other kids and let them get caught up in that,” she said.
The computers and other equipment are donated to Second Launch WV from agencies of the executive branch of government in the state, according to the Department of Education. The equipment is then cleaned and upgraded to meet the requirements of the programs used in schools.
The program currently serves 33 counties with plans to reach all 55 counties.