A forensics invitational is Thursday at Centre

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

After a lengthy discussion Monday about the role of computers in modern-day classrooms, the Centre board of education voted to purchase 100 MacBooks for approximately $100,000 for use by high school students and staff.

Beginning this fall, each high school student will be assigned a laptop for individual use in school and at home. The action was taken upon recommendation by a team of board members, teachers, Superintendent Jerri Kemble, and other staff members who attended a meeting with representatives of Apple Inc. March 30 in Kansas City.

During the discussion, English teacher Jennifer Montgomery said that computers are no longer just to prepare students for future jobs.

“Computers are the new tool,” she said. “They are like paper and pencil. Let’s do it to transform our teaching.”

She said a lot of time is wasted in her classroom as students set up computers and get online. With individual laptops, access will be quick and classroom time will be better spent, she said.

Kemble said she is excited about the opportunity for extended learning. The one-on-one computers will allow students to take them home, where they can extend the learning process on their own.

Steve Jirak was concerned that teachers be trained to use the computer as an instruction tool. Montgomery said staff members are ready and willing to learn.

Kemble noted the district has access to an expert instructor who comes to the school and assists teachers with classroom projects that use computer technology.

Jesse Brunner said the Apple computer is known as “the education computer” and will be beneficial for student learning.

Technology coordinator Dusty Weigert said Macs are more expensive than PCs but are almost trouble-free. He said he spends 90 percent of his time trouble-shooting on PCs.

When Brunner raised a concern about students using their laptops at home to access inappropriate sites, Weigert said any sites selected would have to go through the school’s filter system before they could be accessed.

The board considered a lease-purchase option before voting to purchase the 13-inch laptops outright using money from the district’s capital outlay fund, which has a balance of $454,220.

The approximately $100,000 purchase includes insurance, protective covers, and carrying straps for the MacBooks and 15 iPods for use by kindergartners.

The board also approved the future purchase of 40 iPads and two iPad carts using federal REAP funds that will be received next fiscal year.

Virtual school proposals

Kemble will travel to Washington, D.C. later this week to meet with Lincoln Interactive officials regarding the Kansas Online Learning Program hosted by Centre. She said after she and her staff did much research, she will negotiate for several proposed changes to the program for the next school year.

These include Centre buying the curriculum; Centre paying its own teachers to teach online classes for supplemental pay; LI owning the computers; LI paying for advertising; and LI employing the coordinator. The board approved the proposals.

Coordinator Vickie Jirak was at the meeting and explained her duties. She said she spends a lot of time marketing the online program in addition to enrolling students and assisting them as needed. Kemble said LI invited Jirak to work for them at CHS.

Jirak is scheduled to be at 10 public libraries throughout the state — including Hillsboro, Marion, and Herington — this month and in May to explain the program to potential enrollees and their parents.

Clerk Peggy Falen presented a financial report on year-to-date expenses for the program. She said the report was audited and approved last week.

Ag instructor employed

After a 10-minute executive session, the board employed Mark Hager as ag education instructor for the 2011-12 year. Hager and his wife and daughter were present. The Kansas native is currently teaching at Wakita, Okla. He will replace Cary Granzow, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

The board accepted the resignation of Karen Nickel as assistant volleyball coach.

To allow for preparation for an invitational forensics competition at 3 p.m. Thursday, the board approved a 2:30 p.m. dismissal.

The board approved the purchase of 30 new helmets for high school football players at a cost not to exceed $6,000.

In other actions, the board approved payment of an annual assessment of $3,179 to Parents As Teachers; authorized the payment of $3,599 to renew membership in the Kansas Association of School Boards; and subscribed to Legal Assistance Fund service with a payment of $1,400.