C’view board hears about tech integration

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY — The Crestview Local Board of Education heard a presentation on how technology is being integrated with curriculum in the district and also approved a memorandum of understanding for a new educational collaboration with a local community college during its July meeting Thursday evening.

Trent Kreischer, Crestview director of curriculum/instruction, and Shane Leeth, district technology coordinator, talked about how new technology, including wireless tablets purchased recently with money from a Straight A “Beyond the Classroom” grant awarded to several area school districts, was being used in the district to enhance educational opportunities. The grant has two objectives: to improve student achievement and increase college and career readiness, and is geared toward students in grades 7-12.

Leeth said the district technology plan deals with how to use “barebones hardware” with software to affect student achievement.

Kreischer said he felt Crestview has a good plan on how to integrate technology into district classrooms. “We’re really far ahead of where a lot of schools are around here,” the curriculum director said, noting that Crestview’s plan is structured to provide continuity after the Straight A grant money is spent.

Although students already have laptop computers through the district’s 1:1 initiative, Leeth said the new wireless tablets will allow teachers to be mobile in the classroom, so they can monitor whether students are staying on task, and also allow instructors to record lessons while they’re being given and then put those lessons online so students can review if they have questions when school is not in session.

Kreischer and Leeth also talked about the success of the Tech Summit held early last month to provide training to staff members of the Crestview, Lincolnview, Paulding and Wayne Trace districts on recently purchased classroom technology.

Also Thursday, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with Northwest State Community College for a program known as Project Jump Start, which provides opportunities for academically qualified high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit. Courses selected for the program would meet requirements for NSCC’s associate degree programs in arts and sciences, which are approved by the Ohio Board of Regents.

Board members had questions on whether students would receive full college credit for the courses after they graduate, with Superintendent Mike Estes saying he has been assured by NSCC that they will.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a one-year contact to Susan Watts as an elementary paraprofessional and also hired Jenna Wurst as a high school intervention specialist.
• Accepted the resignation of Karen Pettyjohn as a food service employee after three years in the district.
• Approved a $75 stipend for staff members who attended the Tech Summit on June 10-11, and a similar stipend for special education teachers and paraprofessionals who will attend a restraint training session on August 25.
• Accepted, with thanks, the following donations: $1,122 from the Klein Trust of The Van Wert County Foundation for needy children in the district, and $1,500 from the Van Wert County Foundation for the Crestview music department.
• Approved the 2015 Comprehensive Consolidated Application for Federal Funds in the amount of $345,411.33.
• Approved changes to a contract for non-bargaining unit employees.
• Authorized payment for five unused vacation days from the last school year for Treasurer Ashley Whetsel.
• Approved using Ben Kaufman and Steve Sealscott, as needed, for summer intervention/education programs in the high school.
• Approved lunch prices, athletic ticket prices, student workbook fees and subsequent revisions depending on final billing, and Latchkey fees for the 2014-15 school year.
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel items, with no action taken following the session.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, August 18, in the district boardroom.