This afternoon (10-24-15) your Association had several directors and committee members at the celebratory event, as students and teachers at the south Maui intermediate (grades 6-8) school were processed to receive free iPads. Most teachers received the devices over the summer for training.

Verizon is donating the tablets and two-year, 5-gigabyte-per-month data plans to Digital Promise, a national nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to spur innovation in education to improve the opportunity to learn for all Americans.

In turn, Digital Promise is providing the equipment to the schools along with funding for a full-time coach and another staffer and other learning opportunities, said Jason Tomassini, communications director for Digital Promise. The school was the second to participate, among only two schools in the state, both on Maui.

Lokelani Intermediate School Principal Donna Whitford expressed pleasure that her students and faculty will benefit from the program.                                                                                                                                                                              

The event ceremonies began at noon, although several food trucks were selling before then. Two radio personalities from KISS helped moderate as students read congratulatory statements from elected officials, who were not able to attend. Senator Baker who had previous morning commitments on Oahu was gracious enough to catch an early flight back to Maui and greeted the late afternoon crowd at Lokelani. The school band surrounded the speakers as they prepared to play for the crowd, under the direction of band director Alan Arakawa- no not the mayor.

Some KCA volunteers arrived several hours before the noon opening to help with the set up, while other offered staggered arrivals to cover the five hour event..

We encountered just one manini hic-cup in the overall process. While the I-pads are completely free, in order for students to take them home, an insurance policy is required to cover damage or loss for $25.00. All students have the use of the devices at school, but removing them from the campus needs the practical coverage, and apparently some families can’t afford this, so donors are needed to help here to make the process complete for all Can you club or organization help here? Check with school officials to see how to do so. 808-875-6800