School tech levy serves a variety of needs

Staff and administrators at School District 6 over the next few months will get together to determine the best way to advance the elementary and high school’s technology needs.

Last summer, the school installed 170 HoverCam digital smartboards — large touchscreens that teachers and students can write on with just a finger. The boards ran about $1,400 apiece. The elementary schools bought theirs using funds from the newly passed technology levy, while the high school used monies from its general fund.

The boards can be used independently of a computer or in concert with one, noted district Robert Mears, director of technology for the district.

The district has also improved its wifi throughout the school and is hoping to bring 2 gigabyte Internet to the properties as well, provided it can be done economically, Mears noted. The school already has fiber optic cables serving it, but even then, it’s experienced network problems when multiple students are taking tests online.

The Internet is already the future of education — the district already has its own domain set up with Google and uses Google classroom products, noted curriculum director Dot Wood.

The challenge moving forward is to not just provide students with devices like Chromebooks, iPads and laptops, but to put in place the best educational software and other tools for the devices, she noted.

For example, iPads used in an elementary class are loaded with educational software only — though it’s not boring software. During a visit to a first grade class recently, students were playing math games on their iPads in Cassie Ladenburg’s room, completing problems that were quite advanced for their age group.

The software can also help teachers identify a student’s strength and weakness. For example, if a student is advanced, they can go onto learn at another grade level, but if a student is behind, the software can suggest ways to help.

In the higher grades, it’s also about integrating skills that will help a student get a job or get into college. For example, a student studying the building trades will need expertise is geometry and design, but also practical experience on how to run a hammer. Technology can help achieve that end.

Wood noted that the technology isn’t just about the students, either. It’s also about increasing efficiency for simple administrative tasks like adding and subtracting students from the system.

Technology also helps parents keep track of a student’s progress. Parents can now log onto the school’s system and track their children’s grades in class.

Mears said he’d like to see every student in the high school have their own school-issued laptop eventually. Tracking software reduces the threat of theft, he noted.

But Wood was more reserved, noting that some districts have gone that route, only to learn that the curriculum that goes with device is as important as the device itself.

The tech levy, which amounted to about $480,000 last year, will also go toward people — the school has plans to employ two technology teachers at the elementary and junior high levels. In addition, the school is looking to hire another technician. Mears noted they’ve been searching for one, but there’s competition from other schools for the same post.

About half the levy will go toward personnel, Superintendent Steve Bradshaw told the school board recently.