Techonology Fee Collection

Dear Jenkintown Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. As we approach the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, I want to discuss an important matter concerning the technology resources provided to our students.

As you are aware, the integration of technology into education has become an essential part of modern-day learning. Our commitment to enhancing the learning experience has led us to provide Chromebooks to our students, enabling them to access a wide range of educational resources and tools. However, the maintenance and repair costs for these devices have increased over time due to normal wear and tear, as well as accidental damage.

In order to continue providing the best possible technological resources to our students, we are reinstituting the technology fee that we paused during the pandemic. This fee of $40 per student will contribute towards the maintenance, repair, and replacement of district Chromebooks as needed. We believe this investment is crucial to ensuring uninterrupted access to digital tools that enrich our students’ educational experience.

I would like to clarify that we understand the financial considerations that families face, and thus, we have implemented a family cap of $100 for the technology fee. This means that families with multiple students will not be required to pay more than $100 in total for the technology fee, regardless of the number of students they have enrolled.

We are also committed to supporting families who may be experiencing financial hardship. Families eligible for free and reduced lunch will have the technology fee waived, ensuring that all students can benefit from this technological initiative, regardless of their financial circumstances.

To streamline the collection process, the technology fee will be collected through MySchoolBucks for the upcoming school year. Once at MySchoolBucks, click the blue buy now button, select from one of the three options, and fill out the required fields. You will then click the buy now button again and checkout as a guest. We ask that this payment is made by Friday, September 15, to help us efficiently manage the maintenance and repair of the Chromebooks throughout the year.

Please note that lost or stolen devices or power cords are not covered under the technology fee. Please use this link to replace lost or stolen power cords. Additionally, equipment damaged through negligence or vandalism will not be covered. 

Your support in communicating this information to the school community is greatly appreciated. By working together, we can continue to provide a high-quality education that empowers our students with the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at cumminsj@jtowndrakes.org or 215-885-3722. 

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to the education of our students.

Sincerely,

James Cummins, MS

Director of Technology & Building Automation Systems