Centre board gets hands-on view of Technology Rich Classroom
Superintendent search to begin in January
Instructors Marci Cain and Tana Riffel were at Monday's Centre USD board meeting to share information and provide hands-on experience with the new software being used in the fifth and sixth grades to incorporate technology into the classroom.
They were assisted by Amber Roland, a program facilitator from Greenbush who comes to Centre once a week to assist the instructors. She also meets with them and other teachers once a month at Wamego for additional training.
The Technology Rich Classroom (TRC) program was authorized by the board for purchase last spring. It allows students to do much of their class work on the computer. Teachers grade their work and keep records on the computer, as well.
Students do such things as answering questions, preparing graphs, and doing research on the Internet. They also engage in blogging, organizing files, and practicing math facts.
Riffel uses Excel to teach spelling words and vocabulary development. Cain has found the Moodle software to be effective in engaging students' interest. Moodle allows students to create their own websites to share information and provide access to assignments and instructors from home.
The instructors estimated that approximately 50 percent of class time is spent using the TRC program.
"Some days, we use the program in every subject," Riffel said.
Board members were given laptop computers to access the program and sample how it works.
"Hats off to you," said board president Clark Davis after the hour-long presentation. "We really are on the cutting edge."
Cain also presented a display of various experiments being conducted by students as part of the new science curriculum.
Superintendent Bob Kiblinger announced that Dr. Bill Majors will meet with the Centre USD 397 board of education Jan. 8 to review superintendent applications. Majors then will set up interviews with the selected candidates. Kiblinger is resigning at the end of this school year.
The superintendent announced that CHS sophomores scored above the national average on ACT/Plan achievement tests in math, reading, and science reasoning. They scored slightly below average in English.
Kiblinger shared final figures on a total insurance package obtained for the district through Sunflower Insurance Group. The total premium for 2006-07 was $74,765.56. This compares to the previous year's total of $109,082.98, and represents a saving of $34,317.42.
The board approved employment of Dawn Kaiser as bus driver for the remainder of the school year at $13.912 per hour, retroactive to Nov. 20.
They also approved instructor Laura Vinduska's request for up to 12 weeks of paid and unpaid maternity leave, to commence on doctor's orders. Vinduska is expecting twins in February.
In other actions, the board:
— approved payment in equal one-thirds to Melia Vinduska, Jennifer Montgomery, and Lynley Remy of the stipend for presentation of the fall drama production.
— authorized an After School Biddy Basketball Program on dates to be announced. Kelley Steiner and Cody Schafer will be instructors at a salary of $350 each.
— approved a time change from 7:30 p.m to 5 p.m. for the Jan. 8 meeting.
— appointed Jesse Brunner as chief negotiator with certificated personnel and Mark Heiser as assistant.
— authorized installation of an operable window in Room 8 at the high school at a cost of $1,056.
— authorized the furnishing and installation of two UL-approved metal doors and frames in the woods shop.
The board spent 25 minutes in executive session with Kiblinger to discuss personnel. No action followed.
