School district completes computer initiative

MARQUETTE — Starting next school year, every student at Marquette Area Public Schools will have their own piece of technology to use.

At Monday night’s meeting, the MAPS School Board approved a purchase order for 2500 Chromebooks. The Chromebooks come with a price tag of $650,000.

Purchasing the Chromebooks completes the district’s 1:1 Computer Initiative. MAPS Superintendent Bill Saunders says the computers will provide more access to curriculum and support materials for every student.

“The computer has become a mainstay in most of our life functions especially post–secondary,” said Saunders. “NMU has had a 1:1 Initiative for many years, along with many of the colleges students will be going to. It’s become an extraordinary tool for student learning in a variety of ways.”

Saunders added the entire project is about a million–dollar investment once the Chromebooks are purchased and technology upgrades are made throughout the district.