At an earlier work session, the board reviewed the list of capital projects outstanding for 2012-2013. These projects include a $200,000 segment of the ongoing, nearly completed roofing project. Other capital expenditures include purchase of a school van, book purchases, computers and software, new band uniforms (already purchased to take advantage of a bargain), and, of course, the Ellendale Elementary windows and the iPad 1:1 Initiative pilot program.
“We’re spending down $600,000 on stuff we’re already committed to,” Wellen had said at the work session.
“The biggest things are the roof and the iPads,” Wellen said. “Everything else is basically annual expenses.”
He reminded the board that having the money to spend on capital projects was the reason the district had worked several years to build up the fund balance, and having finally received the FEMA money, the district won’t need to borrow just to keep operating.
Additional projects currently under consideration for the future are: new bleachers for the high school gym (creating a dilemma of updated seating vs. heavy loss in seating capacity due to changed safety and access requirements), renovation of the New Richland Kitchen and Cafeteria, and new garage doors for New Richland, as well as the needs of the softball field currently under discussion with the New Richland City Council.
“If we want to consolidate these projects, we can borrow for less than a percent,” Wellen remarked.
iPad Initiative pilot program
By a 6-1 vote, the board approved to go ahead with the iPad Initiative pilot program.
Prompt action on this item gives the district time to schedule parent-school meetings to discuss terms of use and policy, and give teachers time to prepare and train.
Technology advisor Angie Aaseth was on hand to discuss the program and what it does and does not involve, and also to discuss the technology budget in general.
What is the pilot program?
The district is committing to purchasing 78 iPads – one for every eighth-grader, plus cases, synching station, screen overlays, apps, and development, at a cost of about $42,501 – and a set of 30 for the elementary school (using the district technology fund and $7,500 received from a HickoryTech technology grant and Panther Card donation).
This will not commit the district to a perpetual program of purchasing one or two sets a year until all NRHEG students have one, at this time. Instead it will be a trial period during which the district can evaluate the impact of the iPads and come to a decision about whether the program is worth pursuing.
The Technology Budget
One of the sets of iPads will be part of the Technology budget for 2012-2013.
“The Technology budget is about $12,000-$15,000 more than usual,” said Wellen, “but the Technology budget has not really been used in the past; we’ve lucked out.”
Wellen was referring to the fact that so far, tech equipment such as SmartBoards and projectors have been purchased with money donated by the NRHEG PTO or with grant money. “We need to build SmartBoards and other such items into our regular budget,” he said.
Wellen added as a comparison, that bus prices have gone up $20,000 and no one has remarked about it.
Several board members asked for reassurance that the budget could really handle this expenditure.
“We don’t know yet,” Wellen stated flatly. “We built up our fund balance with the goal that we would be able to sustain it.”
It was noted that there was still budget flexibility in other items such as the roof project and bus purchases.
John Harrington said he approved the iPad purchase “so long as we know we have the option to forego the roof or a bus.”
“I am supporting this, but only as a pilot program,” said board chair Rick Schultz. “I want to revisit this in another year.”
Even if the district ultimately decides against the iPad 1:1 Initiative, the iPads already purchased will see plenty of use in the classroom and by teachers. Aaseth distributed an outline of classroom goals submitted by teachers in seven departments, describing what could be done with the iPads.
“Mr. Domeier says he is already building his own textbook,” Aaseth said.
