Bigfork schools to get Internet upgrades
The Bigfork School Board discussed student performance data and online lunch account payments and approved Internet upgrades through MontanaSky in conjunction with a lease agreement during their meeting on Aug. 9.
MontanaSky representatives Joe Sullivan and Troy Waller discussed a lease proposal with the trustees where in exchange for a lease on a 45x30-foot piece of land for a fiber optics line the school would receive discounted Internet services on par with a university.
“I can think of no other school in the state, other than universities, that would have access to that for basically nothing,” Waller said. “The sales pitch is I have a son starting here in Bigfork. We’re talking about the highest quality Internet you could have.”
The building will be located across the street from the main campus, near the road used to access the football field and could be kept behind a privacy fence similar to what is used for the school’s garbage.
The trustees unanimously approved the lease with MontanaSky. Construction of the fiber optic facility is anticipated by mid-September. Upon completion the school will have roughly 80 terabytes of data going through their property, this will allow the school to easily obtain greater connections as needed in the future.
Superintendent Cynthia Clary gave an update on the GEMS program, Growth and Enhancement of Montana Students, which started over a year ago and Bigfork School’s were asked to help pilot. Essentially the GEMS program is a website that allows the public to compare school’s standardized test scores, programs and finances.
This program also allows educators to access each student’s individual test scores and compare them over the course of his or her academic career.
“I can go to a particular kid and see all the scores a kid has ever had and I can identify some issues,” Clary said. “Go on the site, play with the scores, if I had a kid in middle or elementary school I would do it.”
Clary shared data from the site where she compared Bigfork’s schools to state averages. Through the GEMS website she was able to show how much Bigfork’s scores have improved on standardized testing in math, science and reading and that the district is currently scoring above state averages in all categories.
Then she did a comparison between BHS, Flathead High School, Glacier High School, and Whitefish High School. BHS outranked each school in the valley in every category except math, which was lead by WHS. It also showed that BHS math scores have improved over the last couple of years but the school is still below the state average by .22 percent.
To access this information and to do additional comparisons, go to the Reports and Data section of www.opi.mt.gov.
Another new online tool is coming to Bigfork this year according District Clerk Eda Taylor, MealTime will allow parents to monitor their child’s lunch account and make payments from home.
“Parents can go in and see the balance and sign up to get emails through the system if the balance gets below $10 or $2 or whatever they choose,” Taylor said.
For more information on the MealTime program go to mealtimeclm.com.
In other Bigfork School District news:
Meet the Vikes and Vals is scheduled for Aug. 23 and the next board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 5 p.m.