Warsaw Schools Extending 1:1 Tablet Program To K-4
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Michael Anderson-manderson@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Community School Board approved expanding its 1:1 tablet program at Monday’s board meeting. The proposal, which passed 7-0, will grant grades below fifth grade access to tablets. Unlike the tablets for the higher grades, the new ones will be kept in the classroom. Students will be allowed to check the equipment out for e-learning days and other special assignments the teachers may have. The goal with the program is to meet changing needs of technology, and more internet-based curriculum, said Brad Hagg, chief technology officer. In addition to the new iPads, the school corporation also will be ordering replacement iPads for some of the older ones in the school. More than 3,000 iPads will be ordered. Hagg said the initial cost will be a little high at first, but once the program gets going, it will become more manageable. “We can easily fund this as it goes on,” Hagg said. Hagg said the school is getting a discount interest rate on the purchase, plus textbook rental fees. An option for students to purchase older iPads will help bring down the cost of the program. Also, WCS announced a $5,000 grant from CenturyLink to help with the program. The money will be used to help put the iPads in fourth-grade classrooms. In other business, Hagg also previewed the first E-learning day, which is scheduled to take place Saturday. The days, which were previously approved by the board, are designed to make up for missed days due to weather. The second e-learning day is scheduled for May 6. The teachers will submit the assignments for the day Saturday morning, and the students will have until Thursday to complete the work. The school will open the Warsaw Community High School Media Center on Saturday for students. Hagg asked that elementary students be accompanied by a parent if they go to the media center. On Monday through Wednesday, the center will kept open one hour after school to allow students to complete the assignments. In other business: • WCS announced a $50,000 grant from Zimmer Biomet to further science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and makerspace. Part of WCS’s strategic plan included expanded the robotics program and the makerspaces throughout the district. • Robert Brannock was hired as the new WCHS band director. His wife, Heather Brannock, was hired as the new WCHS orchestra director. Robert recently worked at Liberty High School, Frisco, Texas. Heather recently worked at Harpool Middle School, Lantana, Texas. • Lenny Krebs was hired as the new girls basketball coach. Krebs previously was the girls basketball coach at Goshen High School. See page IB for story. • The school board approved a partnership with Luthern Health Network/Kosciusko Community Hospital to provide health care to the district staff and their dependents. Medstat will offer insured WCS staff to receive chronic and acute care at a discounted rate. The program is scheduled to open during summer 2017.
