At the start of the 2016-2017 school year, OLSH began a technology lending program as a part of the afterschool tutoring program. Funded by a generous Felician grant from the St. Francis Fund, OLSH was able to purchase 6 laptops for students to use during the after school program. The after school program offerings grew to become a resource for students who needed additional technology support at home. Students were then permitted to borrow the laptops overnight on an as-needed basis. 

OLSH was able to expand this program with the events of Covid-19 forcing many students to continue their education entirely online or in a hybrid model. OLSH hopes to continue to grow the lending program so that all students have the accessibility to technology that they need to succeed.

Several students have taken advantage of the program since it began, utilizing the laptops for school assignments and projects. More students have been able to benefit from the program since the start of the pandemic.

“It is really important to have programs like this at OLSH. We want to make sure that everyone has the ability to allow them to succeed in their education,” OLSH Director of Technology, Patricia Krueger said. “I am proud that we can help to provide digital equity to students.” 

After the pandemic changed the academic landscape this past year, OLSH expanded its lending program by purchasing 30 refurbished Chromebooks. These were provided based on need to students who were learning in a hybrid model or entirely virtually. 

OLSH also utilizes their Macbook laptop carts both in person and virtually to help students to continue to learn during an unconventional year. Currently, just under 20% of the student population is using OLSH-provided Chromebooks or Macbooks for virtual learning. 

Parents have been very appreciative of the program, expressing their gratitude with notes of thanks and accounts of how the program has impacted their students’ learning experience.