Technology Class Leads Way For Embracing System-Wide Technology Initiatives

Preparing students to be successful in their endeavors is the goal of all boards of education. For Suffield's board, the results over the years have been very good.

At last night’s meeting the panel heard a report about a technology class that Superintendent Karen Baldwin said has far greater implications of what needs to be done in kindergarten through 12th grade classes.

The Suffield Board of Education heard about the impact of a fundamental technology class for sixth graders during its regular session at Suffield Middle School Tuesday. This was one topic among several agenda items, including discussions on a strategic plan for the board and Suffield public schools in general. As Chairwoman Mary Roy noted, the two items seem to go hand-in-hand.

"I think what we are doing in this class has to be broadened to promote technology literacy throughout the entire system," Baldwin said. "Work needs to be done embracing technology and improving access for students as well as helping teachers to develop the tools to integrate technology into their lesson plans."

Overall, she noted that Suffield is ahead of the curve in comparison to other school systems, but staying ahead and building the technology knowledge is going to be a major focus of her office and the Board of Education in the coming years. To that end, the Board of Education also heard from consultant Jon Costa regarding the first steps of a new strategic planning initiative.

Roy noted that Costa had been instrumental in the panel’s last strategic planning session and his services are being retained to help guide the educational mission and goals for Suffield.

"I don’t know that we will be drastically changing our mission statement," she said, "More that we will be setting goals for the coming three to five years."

Baldwin added that one of these goals is bound to be a greater expansion of the technology initiatives.

"The sixth grade class is just a snapshot of what needs to happen on a larger scale," she said.

Baldwin added that her office and the board will be working together to formulate a needs assessment and create a plan to fulfill those requirements.

"This is an exciting time and we are all going to be learning together," she said. "The board will play a role in this process and we will provide the board with a composite of this initiative and a thoughtful transition plan."

The discussion of technology as it relates to the Board of Education future goals will be an on going process that will involve all segments of the community, Roy noted. Baldwin added that there will be a strong emphasis on student learning and where technology fits in the picture with two or three "robust and measureable goals that will be the focus of board meetings in the future."

The timetable for the strategic plan calls for discussion and information gathering over the coming months with hopes of  goals being set before year’s end or in early 2012.

The Board of Education also reviewed the regulations for the rotary hut, the concessions pavilion at Suffield High School, that need to be held open for the next 30 days. Roy indicated that the venue has not been dedicated as yet but the hopes are it will be ready and open for business in October.

The Suffield Board of Education is slated to met again on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30 pm in the Suffield Middle School library.