DOLLAR BAY – At the last meeting before the start of the new school year of the Dollar Bay-Tamarack Area Schools Board of Education Monday, members discussed new technology in the district.

During her report to board members, K-12 Principal Christina Norland said the incoming ninth-grade students will have the opportunity to use Chromebook laptop computers.

Norland said initially just the ninth-grade students will be using the Chromebooks as a test to see how the computers will work out as a learning tool.

For those families who want to get the Chromebooks, Norland said they will cost $200 each, which for a computer is a low price.

“They are inexpensive because they don’t have much memory,” she said.

The computers can be purchased by paying $30 each of seven trimesters, Norland said.

“After they’re fully paid for, the family will own them,” she said.

The Chromebooks can connect to the internet only through the district’s web filter, Norland said. Students using the computers at home must have access to the internet. They will connect to the district’s web site then sign in.

What are considered to be inappropriate sites cannot be accessed, nor can social media sites, Norland said.

“It routes through here,” she said of internet access.

Even if a student doesn’t have access to the internet at home, Norland said they can still be used to do school work.

If there are any technical problems with the computers, or if they are damaged, Norland said the district will repair them, if possible, but the family will be responsible for getting the repairs done. Software updates will be done at the school, also.

Norland said she’s excited about getting the Chromebooks into students’ hands.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

Board members also ratified the new one-year contract with the Dollar Bay Education Association.

The agreement includes a range of raises for the DBEA members, but outgoing Superintendent Jan Quarless said the $120 per-pupil increase in state aid to the district won’t do much to help the district with those extra costs.

“That won’t even come close to covering these raises,” he said.

The increase in state aid won’t provide much for students, either, Quarless said.

“I’m just disturbed about that,” he said.

The board unanimously approved the new contract with the DBEA contingent upon union members signing the contract.

Norland also went over some suggested changes to the student handbook on the topics of unexcused absences, sanctioned absences, tardy policy, guests of students, academic program testing out, dress code, student-driver guidelines, medication use on campus, and in-school suspension.