Official: Horry Co. Schools to replace tablets for 12,000 students

Horry County Schools says it plans to replace new tablets to approximately 12,000 students this fall.

According to a proposal submitted to the Horry County Board of Education, the district is finalizing plans with Dell to replace all Venue tablets with new and updated devices. District officials cite multiple hardware issues for the replacement. Approximately 12,000 Horry County high school students use the Dell Venues, according to the proposal.

“Some of the issues we’ve had – with specifically the high school devices – are some issues related to some batteries and daughter cards where the charging ports are,” Horry County Schools Digital Communications Coordinator Ashley Gasperson said. “We’ve been working with Dell from the very beginning on the first couple issues we’ve had, and we’ve been making sure we get the issues resolved in a timely manner.”

Gasperson says the district has also received a commitment from Apple to re-distribute 10,000 iPads to middle school students in Fall 2015. Neither re-distribution will come at a cost to the district.

“We have commitments from both our current vendors – Dell and Apple – to help provide support in making sure those go out in a timely manner,” she said.

A document outlining the district’s Phase III of its Personalized Digital Learning Initiative also proposes the addition of technology support systems at elementary, middle and high schools. A budget package in the works estimates positions at each of the district’s schools would cost approximately $1.7 million. The document shows officials have recommended placing the positions only in middle and high schools at first, at a cost of $850,000,

“Any additional support would be helpful having more hands to get the equipment out.. More hands to work on it during the process,” Gasperson said.

The positions, according to officials, would assist with deployment and collection of devices, technical assistance and assist with tracking fee collections.

Gasperson expects the new, updated tablets to get distributed at Horry County high schools during the first two weeks of school in Fall 2015. Middle school deployment would follow shortly after.

Despite technical difficulties and what Gasperson calls “growing pains,” she still cites tablet use as a successful blended learning initiative in the classroom.