Warsaw Schools Look At Laptop Program
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Monday, Jim LeMasters, technology director, presented the Warsaw School Board with a resolution supporting the 1-to-1 program. He asked the board to review the resolution, call him with any questions, and then approve the resolution at its Sept. 15 meeting.
About a year ago, he said, when he took the job as technology director, "we looked at ways to improve education." The one thing he said he is adamant about is that education has to change. Warsaw Schools needs to give students access to computers and the Internet.
LeMasters said they know where they want to go with the program. Before Superintendent Dr. Rob Haworth's resignation, LeMasters said he worked with him on the project and visited two other schools that already have the 1-to-1 program.
In addition to providing all students with laptops, LeMasters said they also must equip teachers with the ability to make use of the laptops in the classrooms.
Dr. Cheryl Blanchard, vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer for Zimmer Corp., who also is a parent of two Warsaw students, spoke on behalf of the initiative. She said she has about 1,300 employees under her around the world.
"We don't do anything without a computer. Not a thing," Blanchard said.
She said her dream is for her children to graduate from Warsaw Schools prepared for the high-tech work world.
The biggest challenge kids have today, she said, is that it is different than when she was a kid. As a kid, she'd spend her time finding information in places like the library card catalog. Today's kids don't have to find the information so much as sort through all that is available at their fingertips. They need to be taught how.
LeMasters said the two schools they visited with 1-to-1 programs are in Holland, Mich., and Kenosha, Wis. The school in Michigan was a private school, but the Wisconsin school was an inner city school. Two other schools are starting up in Indiana with the 1-to-1 program, but LeMasters said he has not visited those yet.
Each laptop will cost approximately $900, including software, LeMasters said. The program would start at the middle schools and roll out to include the high school. The laptops can be used for four years.
It is hoped that grants and community funding would pay for the initiative.
"This is something that works 180 days out of the year for kids," LeMasters said.
Tammy Dalton, school board member who toured one of the 1-to-1 schools, said students there were really respectful toward the laptops.
The school board did approve a motion for Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott to advertise the 2009 budget for Warsaw Schools. The budget will be advertised Friday and Aug. 29. The budget hearing will be Sept. 2, with the adoption set for Sept. 15.
The 2009 estimated budget is $69,382,666. According to a September 2007 Times-Union story, the 2008 estimated budget was $59,946,043, and the 2007 budget was $56,408,489.
Scott also sought, and the board approved, to borrow money from the Indiana Bond Bank. The amounts are $1,449,600 for the general fund; $15,218,458 also for the general fund; and $2,038,000 for transportation fund.
According to Scott, Warsaw Schools uses borrowing to supplement its cash balance and soften cash flow swings. In a normal year, he said, the school corporation does it only once. However, this year the county did not do a spring tax billing, causing low cash balances for not only the general fund but also across all the property tax-receiving funds.
To make sure Warsaw Schools can meet all its financial obligations, Scott said, they will take part in Indiana Bond Bank's 2008 C Mid-Year Warrant Assistance Program. Funds will be received on Sept. 19, and must be repaid by Dec. 31.
Warsaw School's transportation fund currently has a negative cash balance.
In other business, the school board:
n Did not accept the settlement on a quit claim deed for $1,500. Instead, the school board told board attorney Max Reed to ask for more money, $4,000, for a settlement. The money will go toward the 1-to-1 laptop program.
The quit claim deed is for property in Winona Lake left to Dale Minson in Illinois by his mother after her death. She left a majority part of her Winona Lake estate to him, some to Warsaw Schools and to Anderson University. However, Warsaw Schools and Anderson University would only get their share after the death of Minson, who is only 42 now. Minson wants to buy out Warsaw Schools' and Anderson University's share to own the property outright now.
n Announced the board election filing period ends at noon Friday. Districts 3, 4 and 6 will be on the fall ballot. Current office holders for those districts are Deb Wiggins, Chuck Sauders and Dan Robinson.
n Approved a $125,394.60 grant for the Non-English Speaking Program, and a $125,100 grant for the Title III: Language Instruction for Limited Proficient and Immigrant Students.
Warsaw School Board members are President Ron Yeiter, Vice President Dan Robinson, Secretary Gene England, Deb Wiggins, Tammy Dalton, Delores Hearn and Chuck Sauders.[[In-content Ad]]
Monday, Jim LeMasters, technology director, presented the Warsaw School Board with a resolution supporting the 1-to-1 program. He asked the board to review the resolution, call him with any questions, and then approve the resolution at its Sept. 15 meeting.
About a year ago, he said, when he took the job as technology director, "we looked at ways to improve education." The one thing he said he is adamant about is that education has to change. Warsaw Schools needs to give students access to computers and the Internet.
LeMasters said they know where they want to go with the program. Before Superintendent Dr. Rob Haworth's resignation, LeMasters said he worked with him on the project and visited two other schools that already have the 1-to-1 program.
In addition to providing all students with laptops, LeMasters said they also must equip teachers with the ability to make use of the laptops in the classrooms.
Dr. Cheryl Blanchard, vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer for Zimmer Corp., who also is a parent of two Warsaw students, spoke on behalf of the initiative. She said she has about 1,300 employees under her around the world.
"We don't do anything without a computer. Not a thing," Blanchard said.
She said her dream is for her children to graduate from Warsaw Schools prepared for the high-tech work world.
The biggest challenge kids have today, she said, is that it is different than when she was a kid. As a kid, she'd spend her time finding information in places like the library card catalog. Today's kids don't have to find the information so much as sort through all that is available at their fingertips. They need to be taught how.
LeMasters said the two schools they visited with 1-to-1 programs are in Holland, Mich., and Kenosha, Wis. The school in Michigan was a private school, but the Wisconsin school was an inner city school. Two other schools are starting up in Indiana with the 1-to-1 program, but LeMasters said he has not visited those yet.
Each laptop will cost approximately $900, including software, LeMasters said. The program would start at the middle schools and roll out to include the high school. The laptops can be used for four years.
It is hoped that grants and community funding would pay for the initiative.
"This is something that works 180 days out of the year for kids," LeMasters said.
Tammy Dalton, school board member who toured one of the 1-to-1 schools, said students there were really respectful toward the laptops.
The school board did approve a motion for Chief Financial Officer Kevin Scott to advertise the 2009 budget for Warsaw Schools. The budget will be advertised Friday and Aug. 29. The budget hearing will be Sept. 2, with the adoption set for Sept. 15.
The 2009 estimated budget is $69,382,666. According to a September 2007 Times-Union story, the 2008 estimated budget was $59,946,043, and the 2007 budget was $56,408,489.
Scott also sought, and the board approved, to borrow money from the Indiana Bond Bank. The amounts are $1,449,600 for the general fund; $15,218,458 also for the general fund; and $2,038,000 for transportation fund.
According to Scott, Warsaw Schools uses borrowing to supplement its cash balance and soften cash flow swings. In a normal year, he said, the school corporation does it only once. However, this year the county did not do a spring tax billing, causing low cash balances for not only the general fund but also across all the property tax-receiving funds.
To make sure Warsaw Schools can meet all its financial obligations, Scott said, they will take part in Indiana Bond Bank's 2008 C Mid-Year Warrant Assistance Program. Funds will be received on Sept. 19, and must be repaid by Dec. 31.
Warsaw School's transportation fund currently has a negative cash balance.
In other business, the school board:
n Did not accept the settlement on a quit claim deed for $1,500. Instead, the school board told board attorney Max Reed to ask for more money, $4,000, for a settlement. The money will go toward the 1-to-1 laptop program.
The quit claim deed is for property in Winona Lake left to Dale Minson in Illinois by his mother after her death. She left a majority part of her Winona Lake estate to him, some to Warsaw Schools and to Anderson University. However, Warsaw Schools and Anderson University would only get their share after the death of Minson, who is only 42 now. Minson wants to buy out Warsaw Schools' and Anderson University's share to own the property outright now.
n Announced the board election filing period ends at noon Friday. Districts 3, 4 and 6 will be on the fall ballot. Current office holders for those districts are Deb Wiggins, Chuck Sauders and Dan Robinson.
n Approved a $125,394.60 grant for the Non-English Speaking Program, and a $125,100 grant for the Title III: Language Instruction for Limited Proficient and Immigrant Students.
Warsaw School Board members are President Ron Yeiter, Vice President Dan Robinson, Secretary Gene England, Deb Wiggins, Tammy Dalton, Delores Hearn and Chuck Sauders.[[In-content Ad]]
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