The Wayland Board of Educ
ation appears to be poised to fund a program for iPads to be extended into elementary classrooms.
The board held a work session Monday evening and apparently has agreed to spend part of the money the district will receive in the next year from the Gun Lake Casino as part of its compact agreement.
The school district already offers iPads free to all students in grades 7-12. It is believed the older units will become available for elementary children, grades K-6, and new tablets will be purchased for secondary students. Cost has been estimated at $250,000.
The board, it its work session Monday evening, was attempting to determine how to spend the estimated $1.5 million in the next year. Funding for iPads will not come out of the general fund budget.
The board last Monday evening also agreed to fund a new baseball field at the middle school in order to avoid remaining in non-compliance with federal Title IX regulations that insist on equal athletic opportunities for boys and girls.
Before the board made any indications about spending the casino money, a group of about a dozen teachers appeared at the work session to speak in favor of extending the iPad program.
Amy Huyck, a middle school teacher speaking on behalf of physics teacher David Robinson and English teacher Tessa Potgeter, both at the high school, said, the tablets are “a fantastic tool by helping students to reach the next level of learning.”
She added that the iPad program affects all K-12 students while a new baseball field would impact only few.
Cheryl Wilson, who serves the district as a consultant, said, “I would use iPads every day. Our students are not afraid to learn from mobile technology.”
Noting that other school districts and students have taken advantage of iPads, she added, “We need to make a decision right now for what’s best for our students.”
Also speaking to the board was aide Karen Weller, who spoke on behalf of continuing the services of the school nurse because aides sometimes are not properly trained in how to administer medical help to students who suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes.
