(KAIR) -- Many schools in the region either have already or are beginning to adopt iPad technology into the classroom and for students.
It’s going fairing well for some, but not for others.
USD 409 in Atchison is about to complete their first full year of integrating the technology in high school classrooms and to take home with the students.
Superintendent Susan Myers reports a fairly smooth implementation and credits it to around 18 months of pre-planning. (Play Audio)
USD 409 has also this year entered into an agreement with Allegiance Communications to provide a reduced internet service fee for homes of qualifying low-income families.
USD 377 in Effingham is the most recent area school to jump on the iPad bandwagon.
They are spending around a quarter million dollars on integrating the technology into the 7th through 12th grade classrooms and expect to have the iPads in student’s hands before the end of the school year.
Their preparations have included running a pilot in their social studies class this year.
Superintendent Steve Wiseman says the implementation may require some programming changes. (Audio Continues)
Jefferson County North schools will also be looking to integrate a one-to-one initiative for tablet devices for some of their students, which is included as part of their technology upgrades being offered to voters in a bond issue in April.
However, implementation of technology has seen planned cutbacks for another area school district.
According to KQ2 news, The St. Joseph School District says they will cut their budget because future revenues might not be there, including a 63-cent levy set to end in two years.
The three million dollar cut will affect many programs, including technology expenditures.
St. Joseph's Project Connect’s mission is to get iPads in the hands of every student.
However, KQ2 News reports the Board of Education approved the cuts that will see spending on technology drop from 250 dollars per student to 175 dollars per student, which is more than 800 thousand dollars just on technology.
Back in Effingham at USD 377, Wiseman says funding will be an issue to tackle, but is confident in technology trends. (Audio Continues)
Wiseman also cites savings with the low maintenance of iPads, learning in their pilot anti-virus software didn’t have to be downloaded in mass, unlike a typical PC.
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