Four years after Decatur elementary teachers received laptop computers for use in the classroom, the time has come to trade them.
The school board Thursday approved replacing 100 Macbook Airs for the teachers as well as 37 iMac desktop computers at the 6th grade campus. The estimated $163,143 replacement will be paid from the technology bond package passed in 2008.
Troy Bagwell, director of technology for the district, also updated the board on other technology issues. He said middle school students should receive their iPads on Tuesday, Oct. 2.
“During second period enrichment, teachers are already teaching students about good computer citizenship and cybersafety,” Bagwell said.
When asked about the future of printed textbooks, Bagwell said, “I think in the next five to 10 years those won’t even be in the classrooms anymore.”
To help demonstrate how times have changed, Bagwell showed the board what the iPads and the protective cases look like and compared it to a large stack of textbooks sitting nearby, showing what a middle schooler would carry.
In other business, the board discussed ongoing plans for moving the administration building into the “old high school” (which was most recently Weatherford College Wise County’s temporary location) and the technology department into the current administration building.
Superintendent Rod Townsend showed the board floor plans and shared preliminary plans on where different offices would be located.
It was not an action item Townsend said he wanted to know if it was the board’s desire to move forward with the project. The board gave Townsend the OK to continue.
The board also approved the hiring of three teachers:
- Stephanie Fothergill, kindergarten teacher at Rann Elementary
- Angela Taylor, kindergarten teacher at Young Elementary
- Alexandra Marshall, third grade teacher at Carson Elementary.
