South Callaway board votes to implement $500,000 iPad initiative district-wide

At Wednesday's meeting, the South Callaway School District agreed to a budgeted expenditure of nearly $500,000 to implement iPads in classrooms district-wide beginning with next school year.

The decision came after a successful trial run in the fourth and seventh grade classes, where each student was assigned their own device to use on assignments in the classroom and at home. Prior to the vote, the board heard from four teachers in those grades who presented on the benefits they saw in student engagement, enthusiasm and organization since using the tablet computers.

"We're so excited about that, and its' going to change the way we do business and really enhance student performance," said Superintendent Mary Lynn Battles. "It's just great for kids, and from the teacher's perspective, they've already discovered how much students are engaging the device."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.