Superintendent: Ramapo Indian Hills Laptop Distribution 'Going Smoothly'

Most juniors and seniors at Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools now have a school-issued laptop, Interim District Superintendent Ernie Palestis told Patch Monday. According to Palestis, the district started handing out laptops last Thursday, and will continue through this week until every student in the district has been given one as part of RIH's 1-to-1 initiative.

"I am pleased with the distribution process myself," Palestis said.

"The kids really seem excited and enthusiastic about receiving their laptops."

Distribution to juniors and seniors is expected to continue Tuesday, and distribution to freshmen and sophomores will start Thursday and Friday, he said.

"At this point, the kids are really just getting used to having the laptops. We have not yet integrated them into the classroom."

That, Palestis said, will likely happen starting next week, after all students have picked up their laptops, and confirmed that they've attended a training session on them, agreed to the schools' terms of use agreements, and paid an insurance fee on the machines.

Teachers n the district, he said, have been prepping since last year to integrate the laptops into their lesson plans.

"It's an exciting initiative," he said.

"I am looking forward to the next steps, when our teachers and students will really get to embrace and implement the technology."

Details about the remaining laptop distribution dates and 1-to-1 training dates are on the district's website.