Camden students to receive laptops during COVID-19 school closures

CAMDEN — High school students at six district schools will receive laptops to help them learn remotely as schools remain closed to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Superintendent Katrina McCombs said Friday that donations totaling $400,000 will enable the district to purchase Dell Chromebooks, along with licensing fees for Google platforms.

The technology will go to students at Camden and Woodrow Wilson high schools, as well as Big Picture Learning Academy, Brimm Medical Arts, Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy and Pride Academy.

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Students can access the internet through Comcast's Internet Essentials and free Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, which have been made more widely available in the midst of the outbreak.

Donors include the Camden Education Fund, Townsend Press and Campbell Soup Company.

“In these extraordinary times, we are seeing individuals and organizations step up to support Camden families,” said McCombs.

The Camden Education Fund, a nonprofit supporting Camden public schools, committed $200,000.

“As we consulted educators on how to best support the school district at this unprecedented time, all conversations returned to the digital divide," said executive director Naeha Dean. "In 2020, our secondary students should have access to technology to support their learning, crisis or not."