Salem Schools To Fill Chromebook Gap For Students

SALEM, MA — Some of the nearly 2,000 laptops Salem Public Schools ordered up to five months ago have begun arriving and will be distributed to students needing them for remote learning this week.

Salem Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said last week that he expected an order of 400 Chromebooks through the Department of Education to arrive soon as the city remained waiting for an order of 1,600 laptops made in April to arrive for distribution as well.

"We do know it's an issue," Zrike said during a weekly Facebook Live meeting with parents last week. "We are very hopeful they will be in next week."

Salem Public Schools said this weekend that the April order has started to arrive.

"Back in April, we placed orders for Chromebooks for our students, but because of the national back order, our shipping and receiving dates had been continuously pushed back," Salem Schools posted this weekend. "GOOD NEWS! They have begun arriving and we will start to distribute these to our critical need students this coming week."

Contingencies as students await the laptops include the broadcasting of live kindergarten classes on Salem Access Television — Channel 15 — from 8:30 to 11 a.m. each weekday.

Salem Schools also printed learning packets and made them available at schools and food distribution sites on Friday.

More Patch Salem Return-To-School Coverage:

Salem Superintendent Targets November For In-School Return

Salem Schools To Televise Live Kindergarten Classes

Salem Superintendent: 'We Want Kids Back In School'