THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 16, 1995 TAG: 9501160043
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA
DATELINE: POPLAR BRANCH LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Computer instruction may become as commonplace as chalkboard lessons in the near future if the Currituck County Board of Education adopts a mammoth technology plan.
A schools committee recently put a $5.9 million price tag on its six-phase plan to bring county teachers and pupils up to par with peers at more technically progressive school systems.
The dollar amount, some committee members feared, would sway the school board away from approving their proposal to have computers in every classroom and technology experts in every school.
``The dollar figures are high,'' said Tim Ladd. ``And there can be no expectation that Currituck County is going to come up with the money out of their hands.''
Ladd was one of a few members from a committee of 31 to highlight the budget proposal. Committee Co-chairwoman Fannie Newbern was another.
``This plan represents the goals and vision for technology implementation systemwide,'' Newbern said at Thursday night's regular school board meeting, held at W.T. Griggs Elementary School in Poplar Branch.
``The budget figures are the result of realistic cost estimates of the technology needed to support the educational process.''
Dollar amounts for various items include:
$5 million for computer hardware and cabling system-wide.
$346,324 for staff development.
$290,538 to $345,411 for personnel, depending on whether school officials use 10- or 12-month contracts.
$260,000 for software.
``I don't think I see it as overwhelming as I thought it would be,'' said Mary Ellen Maxwell of Moyock, who was re-elected chairwoman at the meeting.
Maxwell said time is needed before voting on the long-range technology plan. But, she added, ``I feel like technology is a very high priority for this board.''
The latest state curriculum audit gave the Currituck County school system high marks in all but a few areas. Chief among the deficiencies was the schools' use of technology.
Under the proposed plan, every classroom would be equipped with at least four student computer work stations. Lap-top computers could be checked out for home use.
Classrooms would also contain a television and videocassette recorder and modern telephone-intercom and media retrieval system.
Computer networking, access to the North Carolina Information Superhighway and more qualified computer instructors are other features listed among scores of recommendations. by CNB