By Michael S. Hoey
The Delavan-Darien School Board on Monday approved borrowing up to $725,000 to fund technological devices such as laptop computers or tablets for every student.
Superintendent Robert Crist in November proposed providing all students in the district with a device by the beginning of the 2013-14 school year. As a step toward that goal, the district began allowing students to bring their own devices to school in January.
Crist reiterated the need for the initiative and the need to do it district-wide vs. in a step-by-step approach. Crist said the students in the district are behind students of other districts who already have devices provided for them and this district needs to catch up. Phasing the program in by only providing devices to lower grade levels at first could negatively affect the learning of the high school students who are initially left out.
Crist also said starting the program district-wide with consistent hardware would be easier to manage.
Business Administrator Carey Bradley provided some options to help fund the initiative. The approved option is a lease option that is much like a rent-to-own program. The district will own the devices at the end of the term, which could be three or five years. The length of the term is yet to be determined. The board approved borrowing up to $725,000 to fund the initiative.
In addition to asking if the program should be phased in, board member Steve Logterman said he was concerned the devices might not be used to their fullest potential if some staff are not committed to integrating them into their curriculum. Crist asked some building administrators in attendance if their staff seemed excited about the program and the response was positive.
Board member Joe Peyer also questioned if the program should be phased in and asked if the district could borrow from itself by using fund balance instead of borrowing. Bradley said the district could do that but it would make funding for other things more difficult.
Board seat open
Chad Kort’s board seat is open at least temporarily. Kort, who was appointed to replace former board member and President Steve Carlson in June, said he found out a few months ago that there was a question about whether his appointment was for the rest of Carlson’s term or if he needed to run for election in April. Kort said either scenario has been done elsewhere and he was informed last week the district decided the appointment should have been until the April election to avoid setting any precedents and to remain consistent with district by laws.
Crist apologized to Kort for the mix-up and Kort did not participate in Monday’s meeting as a board member. The board will accept applications to fill the vacancy through May 23 and decide at a special meeting at 5 p.m. May 28 how to fill the vacancy. Kort intends to apply.
Open enrollment
The board approved open enrollment requests for the 2013-14 school year. The board approved 213 outgoing students and 18 incoming.
Sharon Gonzalez asked if the number of outgoing students was because of the discussion about re-purposing schools. Crist said that was not known. Joe Peyer said he would not personally approve any outgoing students in the future.
Referendum discussed
Crist again said a referendum might be necessary to fund district needs. He said the district is behind others in areas like facilities, curriculum, and technology and the playing field must be leveled. He said the district will come up with a fiscally reasonable list of needs and the earliest a referendum could be on the ballot would be next April.
Specifically, Crist said he thought several new positions were needed for the 2013-14 school year including a third counselor and two full-time deans of students at the high school, a half-time district careers and occupations position, another counselor and psychologist in kindergarten through fifth grades, a technology specialist at each school, more interpreters and possibly an English Language Learner coordinator position that could be rolled into the responsibilities of the new Wileman Elementary School administrator.
