Budget preparation for the 2010-2011 school year has begun, with administrators in each of our school buildings, along with those responsible for district-wide cost centers (transportation, curriculum, food service, etc.), identifying their needs and priorities as they enter their requests for next year. At the same time, we are working to identify reductions in the current year’s budget of nearly $900,000 – in anticipation of a curtailment in state aid to our local district.
Too often, these budget discussions seem to dominate the education landscape, and we have to remind ourselves that we need to focus our energies on ensuring that we are meeting the needs of our students, first and foremost. With that in mind, there are a few areas that require attention as we look ahead to next year. I would like to address a few of these in this blog space over the next few weeks.
Instructional Technology
Across the district, technology is becoming a concern. Nearly one-third of the computers in our schools are older than five years and no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. These machines are not always capable of running the software programs used by teachers for instruction, and many are near the terminal point of their usefulness. On a parallel note, the move to one-to-one computing in grades 6-12 has begun in earnest throughout much of Maine, and there is a fear that we may fall behind our neighbors in providing a rich technological experience for our students if we fail to make this a priority soon. Providing our students with 21st century skills must become a major focus in RSU 21 over the next few years. Beyond providing one-to-one computing, we must provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to use the technology effectively. That may be a bigger challenge than funding the purchase of laptops for every high school student. Simply setting a laptop in front of a student and having him type a lab report or conduct Google searches is not making the best use of technology – though it may be a small part of the whole equation. Conducting effective research, creating working spreadsheets and data tables, communicating with primary sources or other students worldwide, and developing informative and properly referenced presentations require a deeper understanding of the power of technology – and that is when one-to-one computing is worth the investment. I am hopeful that we will be able to move in this direction soon.
