Irving ISD uses online textbooks, so unused copies state must buy sit in a warehouse

The Irving school district in Dallas has been switching to on-line versions of their textbooks.  Unfortunately, they are compelled to buy hard copies  of the books in order to have access to the on-line versions.  These books, then, are warehoused and sit unused until the next edition is purchased by the district.

"Irving ISD officials say the problem stems from two major factors: the increased use of computer-based instructional materials and the reluctance to issue textbooks to each student for fear they might lose or damage them."

Hmmm.  Wasteful.   Irving is apparently an affluent district since each student gets issued a laptop.  I would assume that there are districts, without  laptops, that could use the hard copies of these books.  It is likely that the school beaurocracy and funding laws prohibit such sharing.  The article mentions this as a possibility, but does not expound.

"So many books are stacking up in Irving's Ratteree Career Development Center–which also houses cosmetology and auto tech programs– that construction workers are expanding the warehouse.

Fire inspectors repeatedly warned district officials that it was unsafe to stack boxes of books in the warehouse aisles. Therefore, the district commissioned the $118,000 building expansion."

So, not only are thousands of dollars worth of new books sitting unused, but more money was spent in order to store them!

This article is a bit confusing with contradicting statements and ideas that need to be explained.  For example, early on the author mentions that no one knows how many books are in storage.  Later it mentions that a computerized inventory system allows the state to transfer books to districts that need them. 

 If they can do this  then why are there so many books still in storage?  This should have been asked and answered.

My Homeschooler's Perspective:  

I am all for saving trees and money by moving to electronic teaching alternatives.  However, there will be many, many districts that couldn't possible afford to issue laptops to all their students.  According to this article, districts prefer not to give the students their own books.  So what exactly do they do?  

Full article: Dallas News