School board gets updates on technology, capital budget

by Kathy Duff
Grand Island Dispach, June 16, 2006

Well-attended by 12th grade students needing to fulfill a government class requirement, Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting provided many reports on district technology, instruction and capital project needs.

Molly Talty, director of Instructional Technology, showed the board a PowerPoint presentation on goals and accomplishments of the district’s long-term technology plan. Grand Island currently is working toward several goals, including a five-year replacement cycle for all technical equipment and software.

Talty also detailed many upgrades that are already in place:

•Computer labs are fully functioning and updated in all school buildings, with library nedia centers running at Huth, Kaegebein and Sidway elementary schools.

•New and “professional-looking” district Web pages complete with secure teachers’ Web pages.

•On-line work orders, IEPs (individual education plans for special education students), and health and discipline forms.

•Blackberries (PDAs) for all administrators.

•Full-automated substitute teacher and staff system.

•Scanning of Regents exams.

Talty showed a video on the use of interactive white boards in a middle school math classroom and a video conference involving interns at U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter’s office and students in an advanced placement social studies class at the high school. The board also heard from Karen Karmazin, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, regarding the Life Lessons Grant received by Grand Island from the State University at Buffalo. The grant provides money to set up a club for high school students to promote awareness of organ and tissue donations.

In addition, Karmazin said the district is applying for a federal grant for full funding of a teacher of Mandarin Chinese. The grant application is due this week and if received would be in effect for the 2007-08 school year.

In other business, Loraine Ingrasci, assistant superintendent for Business and Finance, reported that repairs to the high school roof have been completed and have a 15-year guarantee. She also said that roof repairs at Connor Middle School are estimated at $1.3 million and that the emergency generator at Sidway is not functioning and must be replaced at a cost of $35,000.

Funding for these projects must be approved by public vote in November or December. Ingrasci said if a bond issue was voted down, the district could apply for emergency Excel Grant funding from New York State in the amount of $1.3 million.