In a statement given to all classes on February 1st, 2017, by Wilmot High School Principal, Dr. John LaFleur, student Wifi access will cease on February 5, 2017.
Students were told by LaFleur that they will lose access to the Internet and Wifi as a result of network misuse. Many students and others are very concerned with this decision. As you'll read in many of the petitioners' comments below, Internet access is a large part of the learning environment.
If misuse is the driving factor, why isn't the focus pointed at the person(s) responsible for breaking the Network Use Policy rather than the entire student body?
During the class meetings, Dr. LaFleur encouraged students to continue to bring and use their own personal devices, but relying on cellular data plans. Parents and students will have to plan to see a spike in data usage as a result, and in some cases will have to increase cellular data plans.
A large amount of curriculum in all departments has gone digital. This includes class textbooks, Google Classroom, PLTW Learning Management System, other classroom management sites, and other resources. The only classes guaranteed computer access are those taught in a computer lab. Others will have intermittent access to Chrome books as reserved by teachers. Students in study hall do not have easy access to computers or chrome books. Students could ask teachers for a pass to the Library, but there again, the Library does not have enough machines to support the needs of the students.
It should be noted that Wilmot High School is not a one-to-one school. Students rely heavily on access to the Internet with personal devices in order to gain access to curriculum, class resources, and to submit assessments.
There must be a better way to handle the specific cases that do not follow the Network & Internet Use Policy at Wilmot Union High School. If you support this statement and do not support the decision to revoke Wifi access to all students, please sign this petition.
