The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Administration gave school board members a first draft proposal revising the iPad rollout plan for students enrolled in kindergarten through second grade. The plan would provide a pilot program with two iPad pilot classrooms in each level, grades K-2, in all 12 HSE elementary school buildings.
The plan was unveiled at a school board work session.
These pilot programs would be run the same way the current pilot programs are administered in those grades. The tablet devices would be sent home with students “as appropriate.” Students in the pilot would be charged no fee for the devices.
The plan also calls for the rollout of iPads to all students in grades 3 & 4 to move forward as planned, but with the rental fee reduced from $124 to $90.
This program would cost the school system $596,700.
HSE Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter told the board there is enough money in the bonds already issued to purchase the iPads to cover this cost, but this will mean the school system will not be building dollars aimed at replacing the equipment in 4 years.
Assistant HSE School Superintendent Jan Combs says this proposal is a response to the concerns raised by parents at the last regular school board meeting. Combs calls this “a modified proposal in response to the concerns we have heard.”
Administrators are also proposing two separate advisory councils, to “provide feedback and insights on the implementation of the 1:1 throughout the district.” One would be focused on grades kindergarten through 4th grade, the other aimed a grades 5-8. The councils would contain one parent and one teacher from each elementary school building, as well as district-level administrators.
Combs told board members elementary school principals will work with grade K-2 parents that do not want their children to participate in the iPad pilots.
Board member Michelle Fullhart said she has concerns about spending $600,000 for this group of parents. “I look at it as redistricting,” Fullhart said. “You hear from the vocal ones, you don’t hear from the ones who think it’s a necessary thing to do. I’m torn. We talk about how cash-strapped we are, then come up with $600,000.”
Board President Karen Harmer said the school corporation will be spending “a whole lot of money” on portable classrooms if the May 3rd referendum passes and class sizes are reduced.
This proposal would be implemented in the school year beginning in August of 2016. Combs told LarryInFishers the school board would need to decide no later than this time next year where to go next with the iPad rollout schedules.
Administrators stressed this is an outline and the plan could be revised before the board is given a proposal to consider for approval at the meeting scheduled for March 23rd.