410 board approves computer purchase

USD 410 Board of Educa­tion approved a $96,259 computer purchase as part of the district’s technology rotation and acquisition plan at its April 10 meeting.

The purchase will include 51 laptops and 67 desktop computers from Twotrees Technology.

Superintendent Max Heinrichs, along with technology director Brad Just, reported on the future option of adopting Chromebooks, lower-priced notebooks sold by Google that use a different operating system than PCs or Apple products.

Heinrichs said first steps would involve purchasing 20 Chromebooks to introduce to Hillsboro Elementary School staff over the summer and then work toward developing curriculum that uses Chromebooks.

Just said software for lower-level Project Lead the Way will run on Chrome, adding that he thought iPads will find their place with kindergarten through second grade.

The board also approved USD 410’s estimated assessment for Parents as Teachers for the 2018 fiscal year, which will increase from $9,045 to $11,053.

“That’s money well spent to produce the kind of students we want to being into the upper levels,” Heinrichs said of the projected increase.

Other business

In other business, the board:

• approved the resignation of Rod Just as HES fifth grade teacher and Deme­trius Cox as academic skills aide for Hillsboro High School.

At the March 15 meeting of Marion County Special Education Cooperative, Cox was appointed as a certified teacher for Hillsboro Middle School.

• approved a teaching contract for Kyle Kroeker for HMS sixth and seventh grades.

• approved classified hire of Rod Just as bus shop mechanic and bus driver for four hours per day.

• heard from Heinrichs about USD 410 staffing needs that include an HES music and art teacher, possibly an additional kindergarten teacher because of projected numbers for fall, an academic skills aide for HMHS and a bus route driver for two to three hours.

• heard from Heinrichs a state aid update that could mean a $291,894 difference from the 2015-16 budget.

• heard that graduation will be at 4 p.m. May 20 at the Joel H. Wiens Stadium.

• decided the next regular board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the central office because the Fine Arts Festival is planned for May 8.

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