Advancements in technology have opened up a whole world of possibilities, especially when it comes to education.
In the past, a student doing a research paper would spend hours thumbing through an encyclopedia, looking for information that is available now in just seconds using a Google search.
During Tuesday’s Cherokee County School Board meeting, held at Gaylesville School, Dr. Jimmy Myrick proposed a change in the technology policy that would permit students to have smart phones, tablets, laptop computers and other internet accessible devices in the classroom to use for class work only.
Dr. Myrick says that by the fall, they will have 100-percent wireless coverage in every Cherokee County school.
Of course, when you talk about letting students have technology in the classroom, there would be equality issues to consider. For instance, how would internet access be provided for students who do not have their own tablet, laptop or smart phone? Another issue would be how to handle homework assignments for students who do not have a computer at home.
Dr. Myrick says the policy presented to the board Tuesday is just a draft, which could be tweaked and those issue could be worked out later.
The policy will now sit on the table for 30-days for public review and comment.
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In other board action Tuesday:
A number of personnel actions were approved.
Among them were Certified Placements for Summer School, including Math Teacher Stephen Ingram; English Teacher Andrea Eubanks; History Teacher Amy Kelly and Science Teacher Bart East.
The board also accepted the retirements of Carmon Brooks, the current Alternative School Teacher at the Career and Technology Center, who is leaving after 19-years of service and JAG Specialist Teresa Lewis Starr, who is retiring after 17-years.
The board also voted to post the job openings created by the retirements, along with a PE Teacher with coaching responsibilities at Centre Middle School.
Supplements approved by the board included 350-dollars each for Cedar Bluff Basketball scorekeeper Tiffany Ferguson and Cedar Bluff Basketball Clock Operator Todd Dean, which are funded from the CBHS Basketball Account.
There was one 2012-2013 Supplement Change to remove Brett Walker as Cherokee County High Girls Tennis Coach for 1-thousand dollars and replace with Brooke Tallent for 1-thousand 200 dollars.