Lakeville Schools Using State Funding to Help Technology Push
District 194 will also repurpose and reallocate existing funds to cover the cost of technology project iLearn 194.
Photos
The Lakeville Area Public School District is currently in the process of implementing the "iLearn 194 Technology Initiative," a project that will increase and improve learning through technology in Lakeville's schools.
“This generation is very digital,” said Superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder. “That’s the world we live in now.”
Over the next 18 months, classrooms and teachers who have received district grants will pioneer the tools and resources included in iLearn 194. An estimated 50 classrooms acorss the district will be among the first to test Lakeville’s new approach to technology.
Snyder said the district has $2.1 million in funding for the 2012-2014 Early Implementers Program. A large portion of this revenue comes from the $1.1 million in one time Basic Skills Funding, which Lakeville schools received from the state of Minnesota. The district was given these funds by the state legislature as the result of a special legislative session. The funds are only to be used for the 2012-13 school year.
“You always want to use one-time money to fund something that’s going to last” said Snyder.
Much of the remaining funding comes from district budgets and resources that have been repurposed and reallocated. According to a presentation posted on the district website, $85,000 was repurposed from the resource budget and $29,000 was repurposed from the equipment budget. $20,000 was allocated from special education funding.
iLearn 194 is a partnership with Apple and will provide Lakeville teachers with ipod, ipad and laptop training. The project will also give the district access to education research from Apple.
The project’s many goals include increasing student motivation and engagement, cultivating innovative learning and thinking and improving career-readiness.
iLearn 194 will provide 24/7 access to learning. The district intends to install wireless internet in all district buildings, increase online learning, and offer a video archive of lessons. The project will also personalize learning by offering specialized software for English language learners, special education, gifted education and other students.
“I think there’s a demand for this,” said Jim Skelly, a director on the District 194 school board. “Frankly, we’re behind in this area.”
In This article
-
Lakeville Area Public Schools District 194 administrative office
8670 210th St W, Lakeville, MN
Mark
10:20 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
So let me get this straight....last year, we had no money and gutted our band and arts programs. This year, we suddenly find thousands of dollars to buy Ipods for everyone? Really? And I'm supposed to trust this board to make smart decisions?
Jason
10:04 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
I'm with you Mark.
I think we all know that education, curriculae and the tools used to ready our kids for the world they face all need to evolve and adapt over time. There is no doubt that this generation is knee deep into a "digital age" and our current teaching approach probably underserves their need to be prepared for it.
But this decision and effort appears needlessly rushed, poorly planned, and extremely reactive. At a very minimum, pushing this initiative on a community still reeling from wave after wave of sacrifices, cuts and program eliminations with a minimum amount of public discussion and at dizzying speed, seems to me to be a foolish and potentially counterproductive effort at this time. Doing it in the shadow of another push to further gut teachers' benefits, and on the brink of another painful round of budget deficit discussions, is insensitive and thoughtless.
"I think there's a demand for this" is not good enough. Not for Lakeville. Do we know in facts and definitive terms what the payback, in terms of success rates and achievement, is (or at least what we expect it to be) with this type of move? Do we have a plan for how and how much teachers must invest additional time and energy into learning new techniques for this all while debate rages on about their class planning time? Are we setting a good example for leadership by flying into this with all of these questions?
Yes, Mark, it would be hard to disagree with you.
Erin
11:06 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
ok guys, if you pay attention this money is for equitment only and is only available now. it is a use it or loose it. the school board is always looking for ways to better our schools and the quality of education they provide for our children. we got lucky to apply for these grants and if you spend enough time at the schools you will see that we ARE in need of new computers and other tools to teach our students how to survive in the digital world. i am a proud and involved parent of lakeview elementary. i spend much time there as well as some of the other schools in our area and truely beleive this to be the right way to use this "gift" to make our already wonderful schools a lot better. please be greatful to be involved in some of the best schools in the state and understand we didn't get to where we are without some incredible people making some well thought out, good decisions.
David
9:51 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
There is no such thing as a "gift" or as some might consider this money "free." We all pay for this and nothing is free. Where is the money going to come from as this program is pushed upon the Lakeville schools? I see we now have to hire a "coordinator" for another $75,000/yr. I thought there was no money and many teachers lost there jobs? I thought everyone was upset for money spent on the last superintendent of Lakeville yet we're allowing the new superintendent to throw money down the drain.
Jason
10:35 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
That is correct, David. Only $1.1 million of the $2.1 million being allocated to this program (for now - there would almost have to be more later) is tied to the state one-time grant (by the way, where is the STATE of all places coming up with money for these grants right now...but I digress). The rest was reallocated out of special education, technology budgets and resource allocations. For example, I agree with Erin - our schools desperately need upgrades on the computers they have that everyone in the schools use...why are we redirecting that money to purchasing new iPads for only a small fraction of the children in each school??
What has happened is that we have rolled out a program with no parent involvement, no measureable and communicated standards for measuring its impact, and no viable means for students to get support or help from home if Mom and Dad don't use Apple products or don't have awareness of how to be involved in this effort. Most parents I've spoken too had no idea, for example, that any individual students were getting new iPads at all...many of us felt that these were being shared in the classrooms somehow. And on top of it all, we all know that Apple is a closed platform/programming set of tools...have we thought out what happens if that technology becomes obsolete downstream and/or parents are unable/unwilling to purchase that technology at home versus other products? Are we teaching to a tool that is not available to the average Lakeville student?
Mark
11:16 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Jason: I had to smile at your last sentence..."Are we teaching to a tool that is not available to the average Lakeville student?" Surely you realize that the school's plan is to PROVIDE every student with an iPad! Just wait for the referendum to ask the public to pay $300 per year to provide EVERY student with an iPad.
Jason
12:23 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Sounds like a pretty decent plan by Apple to ensure our youngsters are growing up on, and depending on, Apple products to get "caught up with the digital world around them".
Whether or not the voters are asked to support it, or whether Best Buy and Apple kick it in through future grants, this is certainly the foundation for ensuring that the future success of the program and lasting results come only by adding an Apple to every home.
Sal Tessio
7:10 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I must agree that this plan seems to have been placed on the "fast track" by the new tech-loving superintendent. What troubles me more is that we used this "gift" to hire a new person to oversee this program. It begs the question...is there not ONE of the nearly 100 laid off teachers with the skill and expertise to ride shotgun on this program? Did we really have to go out and find a "new" employee in light of what's happened here in the past twelve months?
This does nothing but continue to undermine the credibility of (and my confidence in) this school board and district administration. I have been a consistent "yes" voter on school issues since we moved here in 2001, but the actions by this board and administration have cost them my support. Due to decisions like this these, it pains me to admit that I enrolled my students in private schools this fall. This board can no longer count on my "yes" vote when they continue to make decisions in this manner.