Laptops' Everyday Use

October 19, 2004

Laptops' everyday use demonstrated

DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

Hays Daily News

Grant Adams said he gets nervous giving presentations in front of people. So Adams, a junior at Hays High School, jumped at the chance to do a compare-and-contrast English assignment on his laptopcomputer this fall. In an effort to show board members some of the pluses of added technology at HHS this year, Diane Mason had Adams give his presentation Monday night to the USD 489 Board of Education. Adams and the other 950-some students at Hays High all were issued an Apple iBook laptopcomputer for use during the school year this year. And teachers are incorporating use of the iBooks in their everyday curriculum. "When we first got the technology, there was a little fear factor (of using it daily)," said Mason, who teaches honors English classes for sophomores and juniors at HHS. However, Loren VonLintel, instructional technology coordinator at HHS, assured Mason it could be done. "He said, 'You do the content and I'll do the technology,' " Mason said. Mason said that while Adams took the idea and ran with it, some students might not have done as well as they would have with the traditional typewritten form of report. But, Mason said, it's all a learning process, for the teachers as well as the students. "I learned what to do differently next time," she said, "and how to get more presentations like this." Another presentation was given by Donna Hudson-Hamilton, director of Hays Head Start, who gave the board an the overview of the district's early childhood program. The program is made up of PATHS, which includes the parents-as-teachers program, as well as early Head Start from prenatal to 3 years; Head Start, a preschool for 3- to 5-year-olds; and an at-risk Head Start program for at-risk 4-year-olds. Parents-as-Teachers is open to anyone, while all the Head Start programs are available to income-eligible families. In other action, Rich Kraemer was appointed to be the voting delegate for USD 489 at the Kansas Association of School Boards convention on Dec. 3-5 in Wichita. The board moved to accept the second readings of two board policy reviews - curriculum and preface - as well as the first reading of the business procedures and school facilities. The second reading of the board of education guidelines and meetings was tabled until the next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 1. The board will meet early that evening to talk about a replacement for Sherry Dryden. Dryden resigned from the board at the last meeting because she is taking college classes out town, which conflict with board meetings. Applications for position are due by Monday. Bills of $2,988,122 were approved, and a report was given on the district's interest income. A total of $4,641.08 was earned in interest revenue for the month of September, bringing the district's total investment total to $2.6 million. Personnel transactions included the approval of two resignations: Tami Eccles, para educator at Westside Alternative, and Sarah Wasinger, custodian at Felten Middle School. Also approved were two requests for maternity leave: Deborah Reed, teacher at Westside, beginning approximately Nov. 22 through Jan. 14, 2005, and Angela Ringler, Head Start teacher, beginning approximately Nov. 1 through Dec. 17.

Reporter Diane Gasper-O'Brien can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 126, or by e-mail at dobrien@dailynews.net.