USD 410 board hears of technology advances in classroom

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN LINDSAY ADRIAN
Technology is being filtered into the Unified School District 410 classrooms and providing teachers and students with a more interactive learning environment.

At the regular USD 410 Board of Education meeting Monday evening, the new technologies were explained and demonstrated. Teachers are now able to administer tests and assignments to the entire class by making use of new software, E-Instruction, in classrooms.

By using a handheld remote, the students are able to input their answers to questions that are given to the class through a projector. This software enables students to input their answers at their own pace.

Students have been showing enthusiasm for the new learning approach. According to Max Heinrichs, assistant principal and activities director, the students were so excited about the new teaching approach that they “were screaming for more questions.”

Another advantage of the new software is teachers are able to keep track of students’ percentages without inputting data.

Also, students are able to get immediate feedback from assignments or tests, “enhancing the learning process,” according to Superintendent Gordon Mohn.

Hillsboro Middle School is also taking advantage of technology by administering state assessments in seventh-grade reading and eighth-grade math by computer.

Hillsboro High School will not be using computers to administer state assessments this year. According to Principal Dale Honeck, HHS will use computers for the state assessments eventually, but not this year.

Heinrichs reported that 143 high school students are participating in winter sports, which include wrestling and girls’ and boys’ basketball.

Hillsboro will be hosting the girls’ sub-state basketball tournament this season.

“The good thing is we’re playing on our own floor-we’re good at that,” Heinrichs said.

Mohn reported that Kansas school financing is being reevaluated. Shawnee County District Judge Terry Bullock ruled that Kansas’ method of funding education violated the U.S. and Kansas’ constitutions by not providing a “suitable education,” according to Mohn.

This will directly impact USD 410 students. The district will receive more money per student, provided the legislature finds a remedy for the violation by July 1, 2004. Otherwise, the Kansas legislature may be found to be in contempt of court.

In other business:

n Honeck reported that 10th and 12th graders will be given the Communities that Care anonymous survey, which addresses issues of drugs, alcohol and family life.

n The HMS boys’ basketball game at Haven on Dec. 18 will be moved from 4:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

n The board approved a recommendation that the board annually approve a table of accounts for each building level activity fund. Each school will divide its activities into four categories: gate receipts, school projects, student organizations and clearing accounts.

n A motion to issue a supplemental contract to Carmen Hein, Tabor College senior, to serve as an assistant high school girls’ basketball coach was approved.

n The board approved to expand Communities in Schools Director Linda Ogden’s contract from half time to nearly full time.

n Mohn said in his superintendent’s report that the new temperature control system has saved the school district money and proven to be a good investment.

n An executive session was held for the purpose of hearing a report on the evaluation of building principals and to conduct an evaluation of the superintendent.

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