STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District issued devices to students in the district throughout the month of November. The SOCSD purchased 4,200 Chromebooks through the Equity in Distance Learning Act (EDLA) provided by the Mississippi legislature.  

Students in Kindergarten and first grade were issued iPads, and virtual students in grades 2-5 received Chromebooks. Traditional and virtual students in grades 6-12 also received Chromebooks. 

The SOCSD technology department lead the distribution of Chromebooks at the Partnership School at Mississippi State University with the support of personnel from central office and each school within the district.  

Dr. Leanne Long is the Director of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning at the SOCSD. She believes new devices will benefit students and teachers in numerous ways. 

“The Chromebooks are easy to use for both students and teachers which will allow for easy infusion of the devices into daily classroom instruction/learning. The Chromebooks make learning flexible for all students, virtual or traditional,” Long said.  

Students have easy access to all school district apps including Canvas, Clever, Achieve3000, Office 365, and more. Students can also use their devices during class if the teacher instructs them to do so. 

“They allow students to work together in groups and work independently as well. The Chromebooks are also teaching our students technology skills which are needed in the workplace,” Long said. 

Once students received their device, they were instructed to log into Office 365 using their student email. Once all students were logged in, parents and students watched a short instructional presentation on how to care for and operate their new device.  

Junior Jamaiah Armstead is a traditional learner at Starkville High School.  Armstead believes her Chromebook has already helped her with work in the classroom, and she is prepared if the SOCSD were to suddenly go virtual. 

“My new Chromebook has already helped a lot, and if we were to go virtual, I think I would be ready to continue with learning in all my classes,” Armstead said. 

With the EDLA implemented in the SOCSD, students and teachers are prepared if they were to suddenly go virtual with the opportunity of a one-to-one ratio of students to devices.