Sharon Springs Central School students are kicking off the 2012-13 school year with something different in their backpacks:
iPads.
As part of a pilot program through Capital District BOCES, all 150 7-12 students and their teachers are getting iPad 3s.
Seniors and juniors began getting their iPads Friday following a parents' meeting outlining the project-and students' responsibilities-Thursday evening.
"It all boils down to a matter of equality," said Superintendent Pat Green, who estimated half of SSCS students don't have reliable internet access.
"I think we've always embraced technology here. This was the right time to take it a step further."
The estimated cost of the project-which also includes an iPad lab for younger students--is $215,400, money that will come from an increase in BOCES state aid reimbursement and grants.
SSCS teachers hope to be able to put most of their textbooks on the iPads and one of them, English teacher Tom Yorke, is convinced the sky's the limit.
Mr. Yorke spoke Thursday about the impact his own high school English teacher, Cobleskill-Richmondville's Marty Thompson, had on his life.
"This device will allow me do for all of my students what Mr. Thompson did for me," he said.
"It's about using the same passion we've always had to teach students in a new way."
Parents' questions and concerns Thursday included whether students will be able to use the iPads to go on Facebook or iTunes, what happens if the tablets are damaged or lost, and what happens when students lose their iPad privileges.
A lot of those answers are evolving.
There's a $50 deductible for damaged iPads; lost ones-like textbooks-will be the students' responsibilities.
Students will be able to use their iPads to listen to their music in study halls-with teachers' permission-on a probationary basis.
Filtering will be done through Lightspeed, a company that specializes in working with schools.
For now, though, the answer to the Facebook remains up in the air.
"It's all evolving," Mr. Green said. "We're trying to promote as much flexibility as we can," while still addressing parents' concerns.
Most teachers and students, though, are already sold on the idea.
Mr. Yorke said he'll encourage his students to videotape his lectures so they can refer to them later or when they have questions.
Business teacher Barb Handy said that while students will still be welcome to take notes on paper for her classes, she expects many will use their iPads-just because it's more fun.
Students are being encouraged to personalize their iPads-either with stickers or photos as a way to distinguish them from 149 other iPads-and as soon as they signed the necessary paperwork Friday, most of them were snapping away.
After school help will be available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-4pm for those who run into problems or have questions.