USD 410 buys laptop computers years ago
By MICHELLE BOSWORTH
Staff writer
USD 410 schools will be gaining 48 student and 26 staff and faculty laptop computers for the 2005-06 school year.
School superintendent Gordon Mohn said, "We've been looking at this for three years."
The district bought the computers from Gateway, which offers promotional programs for schools. Each laptop is covered by an insurance policy.
Mohn said the wireless laptop computers now offer students and teachers the opportunity to gain Internet access quickly and efficiently from any classroom in the three school buildings. Last year, the district bought a mobile cart with 24 laptop computers for use in the middle school. Teachers could check out the cart, take it to their classroom, and allow students to conduct research more easily.
Each of the three Hillsboro school buildings contains a computer lab for student use, but they usually are full with classes or scheduled activities.
Mohn wanted to look at expanding student and teacher access to computers. When the cart/laptop system worked well at the middle school, the district decided to expand that option to the elementary and high schools as well.
District teachers and certified staff who attend the "Teach to the Future" class taught by Maura Wiebe and Dustin Dalke this summer will use the new teacher laptops during the next school year.
And, because they volunteer a half-day each weekday for the two-week-long course, teachers also receive $2,000 each to spend on technology in their classrooms. Last year 10 people participated. This summer 21 teachers applied for and were accepted into the June and July class sessions.
"Long range, maybe three years down the road, we want to take a hard look at making laptops available for every student from grades 6-12," said Mohn.
Until then, the high school, middle school, and elementary school each have carts containing 24 laptops that are ready to roll into a classroom and aid in the process of learning.
