L’view board looks at mobile technology

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education approved the list of graduating seniors for 2013, accepted the resignation of a retiring teacher, and also heard a presentation on education technology during its April meeting Wednesday in the district conference room.

The board approved a list of 72 Lincolnview High School seniors and eight Marsh students for graduation, as long as they meet district and state requirements by the end of the school year.

Board members also listened to an hour-long presentation by Dr. Roger Minier and Tonya Koenig of the Northwest Ohio Educational Technology Foundation, a non-profit organization based at Bowling Green State University that provides assistance on technology issues to 150 public and private school systems in 19 northwest Ohio counties.

Dr. Minier handled most of the presentation and told board and administration members that studies show 80 percent of students will need to have some college or technical school education by the year 2020 in order to get a job making more than $20,000 a year.

He noted that many workers today are using some type of mobile computing technology in their jobs, and noted that would increase in the coming years.

The key to having students prosper with the upcoming PARCC (Partnership of Readiness for College & Careers) online testing requirements, Dr. Minier said, is to provide students and teachers with their own mobile computing devices and to fully train students and teachers in the use of those devices.

He said teachers need to be well trained in the use of mobile computing devices because they will, in turn, provide training to students.

Without students who are familiar with the mobile computing devices they use, whether those devices be laptop computers, netbook computers, smart phones or tablets, Dr. Minier warned that test scores are likely to fall when online testing is implemented.

“Teachers need to be ready for the changes that are coming,” he told the board, adding that well trained teachers are necessary to have a successful 1-to-1computing environment where students have their own mobile computing devices.

Dr. Minier provided several options for providing mobile computers to students, including leasing the devices, purchasing computers or having students bring their own mobile computing devices to school — or some combination of those options.

The NWOET representative also provided information on the strengths and weaknesses of the various mobile computing devices.

He also advised that school districts provide insurance for all mobile computing devices used for school purposes, including the “bring your own” (BYO) devices students might bring to school from home. The most important factor in choosing what type of device to use, Dr. Minier said, was to find those that fit the district’s curriculum.

Neither Dr. Minier or Koenig recommended going to electronic textbooks at this time, since e-textbooks are currently just as expensive as printed books and cannot be transferred to new students each year.

Also during the board meeting, the board accepted the resignation of high school art teacher Kay Wilusz, who is retiring after 33 years with the district, and that of Hannah Rockhold, a fourth grade teacher who is resigning, effective July 31.

The board also employed Kristian Comer as a substitute cook and Anna Nussbaum as a substitute custodian and cook for the remainder of this school year.

During his report, High School-Junior High School Principal Kelly Dye commended 20 Lincolnview students who have artwork displayed at Wassenberg Art Center this month, while Elementary Principal Gordon Stemen talked about kindergarten screening for the coming school year, noting that 59 kindergarten students are currently enrolled for the 2013-2014 school year.

Superintendent Jeff Snyder talked about security measures for the school, noting that call buttons have been installed in Lincolnview school buildings and that security company Secure Com is currently assessing buildings looking for “blind spots” where additional security cameras would need to be installed.

Snyder also noted that May 13 would be a district waiver day, and would be used for provide security training for staff members.

In other action, the board:

Approved the following teaching contracts for the 2013-2014 school year: Jennifer Slusher, elementary music teacher, and Beth Schnipke, high school English/yearbook teacher, continuing contracts; Matt Alessandrini, third grade teacher, three-year limited contract; Robbie Breese, elementary physical education teacher, and Tara Gustwiller, second grade teacher, two-year limited contracts.

Approved the following non-teaching contracts for the upcoming school year: Denise Cramer, bus driver and kindergarten educational aide, one-year limited contract; Amy Dunlap and Krista Hill, part-time cooks, and Shawn Fickert, cook, two-year limited contracts; and Michele McCleery, library aide, and Lucy Rice, bus driver, continuing contracts.

Authorized after-prom activities at Olympic Lanes in Van Wert from midnight to 3 a.m. Sunday, May 5.

Approved the Marsh School calendar for next year.

Authorized an overnight trip for FFA students, under the supervision of Tony Campbell, to attend the State FFA Convention May 2-3 in Columbus.

Renewed membership in the NWOET at a cost of $2,417.65, and the Northwestern Oho Educational Research Council Inc. at a cost of $200.

Approved a resolution praising the Lincolnview varsity girls’ basketball team for having the second highest grade point average (3.905) in the state.

Approved a resolution praising the Lincolnview staff for receiving the 2012 Special Award from the Van Wert Safety Council for efforts in preventing workplace accidents and injuries.

Approved a resolution designating the week of May 6-10 as Teacher and Classified Staff Appreciation Week.

Went into executive session to discuss personnel items, with no action taken afterwards.

The next meeting of the Lincolnview