Considering every District 96 5th grader will be receiving his/her own laptop, it is a good thing we are not in the financial straits our neighboring communities are. Sure hope we are not spending ourselves into a like situation.
http://rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=4930&TM=81162.69
For more information about District 96 and their 5th grade Apple laptop initiative see their FAQ at
http://www.district96.org/resources/1-to-1-laptop-initiative/
I see that. Thanks for posting this previous link.
I guess I am dumbfounded that this proposal passed without a proper vetting.
I understand that the funding source fell thru, and that this amount is already budgeted for district technology, no harm no foul? right?
However, does that mean that there are no funds/fewer funds for upkeep/maintenance/replacement for all other technology in Dist. 96?
Dist. 103 has a budget deficit of $155,000 and has had to lose 10 full time and 5 part time positions, last week. The laptops (for this year alone) cost $150,000.
How flush are we?
I guess this would get more interest in the town if it involved Petunias or a Hackberry Tree.
WAKE UP. Why does every 5th grader need a laptop? Who in this town does not have computer access?
First the District says the laptops are free. Now they will have to pay for the laptops, but they don't know how much. But in the meantime they "reassign" a staff person to head up a program that does not officially exist because they have not yet come to an agreement with the vendor.
Since you already have the staff person "reassigned" to this project it sounds like we will need to move forward with the purchasing the computers. Then they will need to backfill the other position - two for one. Then the IT nightmare will start. 150 kids messing around with 150 operating systems. They will need to hire 1 -2 more tech staff just to handle the service issue. $150,000 turns into a $200,000 to $300,000 ANNUAL EXPENDITURE. That's a lot more than Katy Rush's severance or Camiros consulting fees.
How will this better educate a child compared with buying a textbook? Old fashioned paper and ink are not as sexy on Lamberson's resume. AND the good DOCTOR is now set up to ask for the big raise come contract time ... more staff, more complicated systems, larger budgets. You know the drill.
We need to keep the schools focused on math, reading, writing and history. All things that still can be imparted from a book
I completely agree. Did they not get letters about this? I know I sent one. A discreet means test for children who do not have computers seems a good idea. This, I do not understand under these economic circumstances. Hope they're not going to be asking for any more money any year soon.
Hope they know that the D96 fifth graders who do not attend D96 schools will also expect to get a laptop. Especially if the computer can be used for other things than school work.
Looks like they voted to go forward with it. I am still waiting for answers to my questions. I did not know about a requirement that non district 96 students should also be included in the target set of students, but that is a good question. One of my questions had to do with how they were estimating the denominator of the 1/1. Here is more on this topic, from today's Landmark...
home : news : news May 06, 2009
5/5/2009 10:00:00 PM Email this article • Print this article
District 96 approves laptops for all fifth-graders
Students will have computers until they graduateBy BOB SKOLNIK
Contributing ReporterNext year all fifth-graders in Riverside School District 96 will be given their very own Apple MacBook laptop computer which they will be allowed to use until they graduate from eighth grade. But, at least at first, the students will not be allowed to take their computers home.
Last month the District 96 school board approved 1-to-1 Laptop Initiative and plans to purchase 170 to 175 Apple MacBooks at a cost projected to total about $150,000, according to information about the program posted on the district's Web site. This year District 96 has budgeted $171,000 for computers.
http://www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=4960&TM=51673.73
I had these questions previously:
is the $171k that d96 budgeted for computers, is that the yearly budget for all computer related items, including software, support, or just for new hardware?
another question: an existing staffer has been assigned to perform the role of the laptop mgr. My immediate question was - wdnt we then need to add a person to do her old role? This question was asked in the FAQ, but it was not answered. So there could be another net staff position to spend money on as a result of the program. see q 41
One add'l question that I had - How did they factor in student population growth? Is 2 to 7 add'l laptops reasonable for next yr's projected 5th grade class?
Also, I needed clarification on the operation of the program: as new students are added to the 5th--8th classes, will these new students also get the dedicated laptop? If it is in the FAQ, please cite and forgive me.
I just saw that the FAQ was updated today. So I will review it.
I have a lot of questions regarding the cost vs. educational benefit of this program which I intend to send to Ms Whaley and Dr. Lamberson.
But my starting point is Section 3 of the FAQ Update:
http://www.district96.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/faq-update-5-6-09.pdf
Where it references the link for Riverside School District 96’s mission and imperatives statement: http://www.district96.org/about-district-96/mission-statement/
The very mission statement of our School District does not mention what core material/subjects a student should be proficient in:
“The mission of the District 96 Public Schools is to provide for each student a challenging education which promotes academic excellence, encourages creativity, develops critical thinking, and fosters respect for self, community, and the environment.”
http://www.district96.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/mission-statement.pdf
Should their not at least be a mention of some sort of Core Curriculum?
Should the schools most basic task at least state that students should be proficient in in Math, Reading, Science, Written Communication, US History and for the goal to be higher than average standards?
The Illinois Board of Higher Education was able to put it in writing:
http://www.ibhe.state.il.us/Academic%20Affairs/iai.htm
It was said very well back in 1983:
The people of the United States need to know that individuals in our society who do not possess the levels of skill, literacy, and training essential to this new era will be effectively disenfranchised, not simply from the material rewards that accompany competent performance, but also from the chance to participate fully in our national life. A high level of shared education is essential to a free, democratic society and to the fostering of a common culture, especially in a country that prides itself on pluralism and individual freedom.
-- A Nation at Risk, 1983
Wow - $150,000 for laptops? Holy smokes. This doesn't even account for providing computers to all district 96 kids. St. Mary's, Whispering Winds and home schooled kids should be entitled to laptops also. If the child lives in Dist 96 and their parents pay taxes to dist 96, it is only fair that should be entitled to a laptop as well.
Mike - you should be the next Village Manager.
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