Protective cases secured for new student devices

Photo by Jamie Wiggan

Sto-Rox administrators Chris Captline (left) and Sam Weaver (right) help unload 1,500 laptop cases distributed by Leadership Pittsburgh using a $22,000 donation from Dollarbank.

By Jamie Wiggan

-Sto-Rox-

A group of regional professionals pulled together skills and resources to outfit Sto-Rox student Chromebooks with protective cases to help safeguard the district’s new devices from accidental knocks.

Working together under the direction of Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc., the 19 regional leaders secured a $22,000 donation from Dollar Bank to cover the cost of 1,500 protective cases for Sto-Rox students and an additional 500 for the Brentwood School District.

Formerly a district lagging behind on technology access, Sto-Rox administrators were able to secure personal devices for every student before starting out the semester on an online-only learning track in early September.

Speaking at Sto-Rox’s Nov. 10 board meeting, administrators at the high school and upper elementary said between 50-60 chromebooks have needed repairs since they were issued two months previously. The gifted hard cases are expected to reduce that number moving forward.

After setting out to support school districts through the disruptions caused by pivoting to virtual learning, the leaders were referred to Sto-Rox and Brentwood by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Superintendent Frank Dalmas said in a press statement he was “surprised and very pleased” that the Leadership Pittsburgh team honed in on Sto-Rox for the project.

Last year, a different team assembled by Leadership Pittsburgh immersed themselves in the Sto-Rox community for 12 months, as they sought to identify the community’s needs and offer solutions accordingly.

At the culmination of the project in May 2019, the team hosted an “Imagination Stations” event in the McKees Rocks business district that combined laughs and entertainment with new learning opportunities.

Leadership Pittsburgh is a non-profit organization that helps leaders at varying career stages further develop skills and strategic networks by working together on community projects.