The District’s Smart Schools Investment Plan to spend $400,000 in state funding for instructional technology upgrades in 2016-17 was approved by the Board of Education on Wednesday at Green Meadow Elementary School.
The plan would improve classroom technology by expanding wireless Internet at all seven schools and add 82 interactive whiteboards and 10 tablet computers throughout the District.
The money is coming from $2.3 million in state funding that was allocated to East Greenbush CSD through the Smart Schools Bond Act which was approved by voters in a statewide election in November 2014. It authorized $2 billion to fund public schools with educational technology and infrastructure upgrades to improve learning opportunities.
The overall plan, which was presented to the public at the January 13 Board of Education meeting, will provide for technology upgrades such as:
- wireless Internet
- interactive white boards in classrooms
- handheld devices such as tablet computers
- security upgrades
District administrators and teachers developed the Smart Schools Investment Plan this school year using data from an online survey of students, staff and parents, and through committee meetings. The plan was approved by Northeast Regional Information Center in August and by the State Education Department in November.
The District will include the first year’s spending in the 2016-17 budget and then be reimbursed by the state.