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Technology comes to BBHS students |
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Wednesday, 16 September 2009 |
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 Austin Pracht (closest to the camera) and his fellow BBHS junior classmates are shown logging on to their new laptop computers. The laptops were issued to the junior and senior students Tuesday evening.
By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Assistant Editor
Starting yesterday morning, Broken Bow High School juniors and seniors are now able to access assignments, do research and complete homework like never before.
Thanks to special state funding, the school was able to provide new laptop computers to each member of both the junior and senior classes. These computers will allow the students the ability to access scheduled assignments in each class, as well as communication with the teachers and other students.
The laptops were made possible through poverty fund dollars. One of the stipulations when applying for poverty fund money is the funds must be used for a new program at the school.
The faculty and administration, along with input from the Board of Education, have spent the past year researching the school’s needs to determine what the best new program for the students would be. It was decided that the laptop initiative was the best option.
Broken Bow Schools is eligible for just over $180,000 in poverty funds. That money can be used to pay 85 percent of the cost of the project, with the school required to contribute the remaining 15 percent.
Those numbers generated enough money to provide laptops to junior and senior students to begin with. Administrators say depending on how the project goes, they may look at adding more laptops for other grade levels in the future.
The computers were issued to the students Tuesday evening at the school, with each student required to bring a parent. The rules and guidelines for use of the computers were explained, and the students were required to sign a form agreeing to those guidelines.
The laptops each come in a heavily padded backpack to protect it, and has an ID number stitched on the front of each backpack. That number correlates with the number on the laptop. The laptops also have the students name on them.
The school purchased 170 laptops, and also had to increase the technical support staff to accommodate the new program. Jana Kaelin was added to the department, and had her amended contract approved at Monday night’s school board meeting.
Jim Ingram, technology coordinator for the school, reported at that school board meeting that everything was in place for the distribution. He assured the board that all computers are equipped with filters which prevent access to certain materials, no matter where in the world that laptop is. He also assured that staff would be closely monitoring the usage of the laptops.
Dr. Timothy Shafer, Broken Bow Schools Superintendent, told the board that in a survey conducted among the school’s grades 9-12 students, 85 percent reported having Internet access at home. And while that may seem like a lot, Shafer added, that means there are 15 percent of the students who do not have that access.
When initially discussing possibly adding this program to the school, Principal Ken Kujath made the point that one good reason for implementing the eLearn is to level the playing field. He noted that the laptops would allow all students the same opportunities.
At Tuesday’s distribution, it seemed to be the teachers who were most excited.
“This is a huge night for us,” said Kay Pierce as she helped the junior class learn to navigate their laptops. “This is the best thing that has happened here in a long time.”
That same sentiment had been shared the night before at the school board meeting by Jim Ingram.
“I really think this is the single most exciting and innovative thing this school has done in all the years I have been here,” said Ingram. He went on to commend the board and administration for their efforts in bringing this project to fruition.
The next few weeks and months will be a learning experience, as both students and staff become adapted to the new system. However, Ingram and the rest of the technical staff believe the benefits the students will receive from the project will be well worth the effort. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 September 2009 )
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