Hannaford gives $107K to schools
Funds to get Albany, Schenectady students better access to classes
Hannaford Supermarkets on Wednesday donated $107,000 to help Albany and Schenectady students get computers and internet access for remote learning.
Albany and Schenectady schools, along with districts across the nation, are waiting on delayed Chromebook orders placed in July, due to global manufacturing and shipping delays the pandemic has caused. As teachers call in sick, and possible exposure keeps students who had previously been attending in-person classes at home, the need for computers is only increasing.
The donation includes $75,000 to the Albany Fund for Education and $32,000 to Schenectady City School District Education Fund. The Albany Fund for Education will use the money to purchase 400 laptops for students.
In Schenectady, teachers will get money to buy learning equipment for students, including books and headphones. A portion of the money will also go toward underwriting internet costs for 55 families’ homes from January to June 2021.
“Our students are now in a position where they get to own a computer, not have a loan of a computer, and this computer will be with them until the end of time,” Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams said. “That is just an awesome opportunity for our students.”
Mari Shopsis, executive director of the Albany Fund for Education, said she is not worried about securing computers despite the supply chain issues.
“We have a few different
sources of refurbished laptops and Chromebooks that are in great condition. Those are not affected by the current supply chain issues,” Shopsis said.
For many families at home who have multiple children learning, sharing the one or two devices the district was able to provide isn’t enough because class schedules overlap.
“We have tried very hard to adjust our schedule, so that students may not have competing instructional time, but it can’t be avoided,” Adams said.
“I mean, if you have a student that is in the elementary school, middle school and high school, there will be some competing interests with regard to instructional time.”