By Crystal Hayduk
Since Chelsea School District (CSD) students returned to four and a half days a week of in-person instruction on April 26, some families are dealing with another technology change.
When school buildings closed in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, district administrators and employees developed a plan to provide remote instruction, which included allowing every student to have their school iPads at home. The district also obtained mobile hotspots to help families who lacked reliable internet access, but lived in locations with good cellular service.
But now, students in kindergarten through fourth grade must leave their iPads at school and return the hotspots. According to Scott Wooster, CSD’s director of technology services, the decision was “based on the educational needs of the students.”
Wooster said students can take their iPad and a hotspot home if they are quarantined, however.
While families who have not had reliable internet have always keenly felt technological inequities, the pandemic has firmly established the necessity of access to conduct life and business in the 21st century.
After hearing from a number of distressed Chelsea families, Jacob “Jake” Lamley is offering a solution.
Lamley managed the Chelsea Verizon store for eight years until his transfer to Saline last September. During his time in Chelsea, he made connections with countless residents and businesses. “My clients have been loyal to me, and I want to extend that back to the Chelsea community,” he said.
Lamley said he will work with anyone in the greater Chelsea community to help them with their technology needs. Whether the need is for an iPad, Verizon service, or both, he’ll do his best to provide affordable options—over and above previously advertised offers.
“I want to make an additional loyalty offer because I care about the community,” he said. “I know there are a lot of people who live in areas where the internet is difficult to get, but if there’s a way that I can help them have service through Verizon, it will be life-changing for them.”
Anyone in the Chelsea community can learn more by phoning Lamley at 517-745-9577.
