Having access to a computer at home for students has become a necessity in a technology-driven society. However, some families cannot afford one.

The district has decided to use the retired laptops for less fortunate students by refurbishing and rebooting them.

McNeil’s computer science classes, taught by Dave Effland, have taken up the challenge of refurbishing the computers from the district to prepare them for other families.

“We learn how to fix, maintain, and operate – we learn all the peripherals essentially,” sophomore Vinh Ton said.

The Laptops @Home Program, launched in March of 2015 by Mark Gabehart, head of the RRISD technology department, allows the district to distribute their refurbished laptops for reuse by students enrolled in Title 1 schools .

“The district and Mark Gabehart thought, ‘why not if we already have extra laptops and we’re teaching the students to do this – why not apply the skills,” Effland said.

The three campuses included in the refurbishing program – McNeil, Cedar Ridge and Stony Point – are the only ones with the computer science curriculum.

Students who receive the computers use the laptops for required projects, homework, and for learning lessons in the classroom. In addition to receiving a laptop and a case, technology training is provided for parents and students.

“The district thought it would’ve been a more generous option to give the laptops to students in need rather than sell them to a company for cheap,” Effland said.

Gabehart came to the campuses during teacher training and brought the idea to the table. Title 1 students have received more than 600 laptops already.

“This is will be a great opportunity for the receiving students,” junior Emen Cloyd said.