North Callaway School Board hears technology upgrade options

KINGDOM CITY- The North Callaway R-I School Board discussed five options for upgrading student technology in the district - a project included in its $6 million bond issue - at its regular meeting Thursday.

However, the board said Thursday it wants to improve the technology infrastructure before selecting an equipment option.

They have, so far, allocated $492,500 of the $6 million towards improving the technology available to students in the district. Another $500,000 of the bond issue's funding has yet to be budgeted for a specific project, and Superintendent Bryan Thomsen told the board he wants to see some of that go towards providing new computers to students.

"Getting technology in the hands of our kids is super important," Thomsen said. "Any additional technology we can get will help."

Option one, according to the bond issue technology plan update presented to the board, would provide a 1-to-1 ratio of laptops for upper elementary (305 total) and middle school students (235 total), while equipping kindergarten and lower elementary students with a 1-to-2 ratio of Apple iPads (90 total). High school students would receive 120 total laptops for the English Language Arts classes and 90 total laptops for the school's departments. The overall cost would be $444,769.

Option two, according to the technology plan, would provide a 1-to-2 ratio of laptops for upper elementary students (189 total) and Apple iPads for kindergarten and lower elementary students (90 total). Similar to the first option, middle school students would have a 1-to-1 ratio of laptops (165 total) and high school students would receive the same amount of laptops as in option one. The total cost would be $346,733.

Option three, according to the technology plan, would have a 1-to-2 ratio of Apple iPads for kindergarten and lower elementary students (90 total), as well as a 1-to-2 ratio of laptops for upper elementary (189 total) and middle school students (83 total). High school students would still have access to the same amount of laptops proposed in option one. The final cost would be $302,285.

Option four, according to the technology plan, would provide kindergarten and lower elementary students with 75 Apple iPads and 80 laptops, 100 laptops for the upper elementary students and 100 laptops for middle school students. High school students would still receive the same number of laptops offered in option one. The total cost would be $301,711.

Option five, according to the technology plan, is a two-phase plan that in its first phase offers 90 Apple iPads to kindergarten and lower elementary students. A 1-to-4 ratio of 100 laptops would be given to upper elementary students, and the same ratio would equip middle school students with 50 laptops. High school students would receive 120 laptops for the English language arts classes, for a total of $186,997. In the second phase of option five, an additional 150 laptops would be provided for upper elementary and middle school students and 90 additional laptops for high school students. The second phase would bring the overall plan to $315,883.80 but option five is a conservative choice as the board does not have to move forward with the second part of the phase.

Some board members said they are hesitant to purchase technology equipment now before the district can do some additional number crunching. The board plans to complete the technology infrastructure this summer, then it will revisit the technology upgrade options.

Other parts of the bond are making progress as well.

The district will acquire the 44.93 acres of land for current and future expansions from Joseph Spatafora, Jr. on June 15.