Utica Community Schools

2023-2024 DEVICE RESPONSIBILITY, DAMAGE FEES AND OPTIONAL INSURANCE

FINAL DATE TO ENROLL: 11:59 PM ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Student Device Responsibility & Optional Insurance - For all Assigned 1:1 UCS Students

Utica Community Schools is proud to deliver 1:1 technology to our students. Depending upon the grade level, your child has been issued either an iPad or a Dell laptop including charging cords and any applicable accessories. Your child is responsible for the device at all times.

Additionally, a separate Technology Device Use Agreement that includes an electronic sign-off must be provided to the district prior to device distribution. This agreement includes the procedures for Board Policy 6600 - Acceptable Use of the District Technology Resources, acknowledgement that the Student Device Agreement has been discussed with your child, and you have read Board Policy 5160 – Information & Communication Technology. The Technology Device Use Agreement can be found by logging in to your PowerSchool parent account using a web-browser (found at this link), selecting “Forms” from the Navigation menu, and then selecting “Required to Complete Each Year” from the list. Please note that the PowerSchool app does not contain a link to district forms. Forms are only accessible through a web-browser.

Damage Fees

In the event of damage to an iPad or laptop, district policies and practices require a charge be assessed to cover the repair or replacement cost of the device. The fees described below are based on use of a UCS-provided device and any damage to it, whether accidental or intentional, after it has been issued to the student.

Device Insurance Plan for Accidental Damage – Annual OPTIONAL COVERAGE

An annual insurance plan has been designed to help families if there is an accident that causes damage to the school issued device. When participating in the district’s insurance plan for $17.50 per year, any accidental damage reported will be covered as described below.

Insurance coverage will repair/replace the device for accidental damage with no cost incurred by the student for the first incident (claim). Subsequent damage repairs during the covered year will have a deductible assessed per instance. Insurance will cover a maximum of 3 damage occurrences during the covered year. The deductible fee schedule for each damage occurrence is outlined below. Please note, if insurance is not purchased, actual repair costs (not to exceed the cost of the device) will apply.

2023-2024 INSURANCE FEES:

Insurance Plan Purchase

• $17.50 per device, per year 

Device Damage/Occurrence Fees (WITH INSURANCE)

• First Occurrence - NO CHARGE
• Second Occurrence – not to exceed $75 (iPad) / $150 (laptop)
• Third Occurrence – not to exceed $150 (iPad) / $300 (laptop)
• Thereafter – full repair/replacement cost

ITEMS NOT COVERED BY THIS OPTIONAL PLAN:

ACCESSORIES ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE

• Accessories include, but are not limited to, a USB power adapter, charging cable and/or protective iPad case.
• Replacement of lost or damaged accessories is the responsibility of the student. Utica Community Schools recommends Original Equipment Manufacturer replacements. 

INTENTIONAL DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE

• Any damage reported due to misuse, neglect or any other form of intentional damage will result in fees up to the full cost of replacing the device, regardless of your participation in the annual insurance plan.   

DAMAGE DUE TO REMOVAL OF THE PROTECTIVE IPAD CASE IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE

• Utica Community Schools has selected a protective iPad case for all district issued iPads. Students must NEVER remove the case.
• Any damage that occurs due to the removal of an iPad case is considered INTENTIONAL DAMAGE and is not covered by insurance.

LOST OR STOLEN DEVICE

• Lost devices are NOT COVERED under this optional insurance policy.
• In the case of theft of an iPad or laptop, a copy of a completed police report MUST BE RETURNED to Utica Community Schools. A stolen device IS COVERED by the purchased insurance ONLY IF a police report is filed and a copy provided to the district.

How to Purchase Device Insurance -- ONLINE:

The initial fee to purchase device insurance can be paid online using your checking account, debit card or credit card through PaySchools.  The link to PaySchools is the same for ALL schools: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

Please note - PaySchools has improved its platform this year to provide a system that is more consistently reliable and user friendly. The end result for parents will be that the information they need will be personalized for their child. 

As a result, families will be asked to recreate an account (even if you previously had a PaySchools account).  Once created, you will be provided with those product choices that directly relate to your child. 

Just follow these easy steps:

• Create an account from your computer or tablet at: www.payschoolscentral.com (Important - it is not recommended to use the app as it does not properly support UCS content). 
• Complete the account registration by selecting register, enter your profile details, setting up your password via the email link that will be sent to you, then logging in.
• Add your children to your account using their student ID numbers. ID numbers are found on their report card available through PowerSchool. 
• If you like, enter credit card and/or banking information as forms of payments to use with your PaySchools account. 

Need help with your PaySchools Central account? 
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET (M-F)  
psc_help@payschools.com
877-393-6628

Rest assured that PaySchools is PCI-compliant and maintains industry-standard SSL certificates, ensuring all your family’s data is safe and secured. 

In addition to PaySchools, high school students will have the opportunity to pay for this optional insurance program in person during their scheduled registration day (Falcon Day, Titan Day, etc.). High schools will accept payment by check during this time. If your child does not attend one of our four senior high schools, and you are unable to pay electronically through PaySchools please contact your building building staff to discuss alternate payment methods. 

FINAL DATE TO ENROLL FOR TECHNOLOGY INSURANCE (2023-2024)

In order to be considered enrolled in the optional Technology Insurance Program, payments for 2023-2024 school year must be received no later than 11:59 pm on Thursday, September 14, 2023. 

IF THE DEVICE IS DAMAGED:

In the event of damage, bring the device to your building principal. Office staff will advise the next steps.

HOW TO PAY FOR DEVICE DAMAGE FEES (with or without insurance) -- ONLINE:

All damage fees associated with the school issued device can also be paid online using PaySchools.