Small Town News

Rolla School Board looks to grant for technology improvements

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The Mount Pleasant School Board of Rolla unanimously approved taking a swing at a major technology grant as well as for the green and bleachers last week at its monthly meeting.

The board voted to allow Superintendent Brian Palmer some leeway in applying for a classroom transformation grant from the N.D. Educational Technology Council.

The grant would allow the district to purchase new net books which are small, light and inexpensive laptop computers suited for general computing and accessing web-based applications. In addition, the school would switch over to a wireless system and get basic infrastructure upgrade to the district's entire computer system.

The grant requires that the district contribute 60 percent of the total cost. Palmer estimated that the proposal could mean a $25,000 bill for the school. He added that those funds would primarily come from federal dollars the district receives and that the cost could be spread out over two years.

Earlier in the meeting, Palmer laid out another option of just purchasing the net books, which would cost the district approximately $5,400. He pointed out, however, that the school's computer system is in need of an update.

"1 think we're doing a disservice to our students in the area of technology," Palmer told the board. "The bigger project would allow us to stretch our dollars to the maximum."

Palmer also pointed out that once a district is awarded an educational technology council grant, the likelihood of getting another one is very slim.

Board Member Dustin Dunlop added that the school's share portion of these grants recently increased from 50 percent to 60 percent. He said waiting another year would be taking a chance that the local match wouldn't go up again.

Palmer said if the district receives the grant, the new net books could mean the phasing out of one of the the school's two computer labs. He said that move would save some money.

The superintendent also noted that the net books would allow teachers to bring computers into the classroom and allow students more opportunities.

The grant application was submitted Friday and the district will find out next month if it's accepted.

Also at last week's meeting, the board unanimously approved two sports cooperative agreements for baseball and golf.

One agreement will allow students from Rolette-Wolford to golf with the Northern Lights team, which consists of students from Rolla and St. John.

In return, the other agreement allows students from Rolla and St. John to swing for the fences on the Rolette Comets baseball team.

Rolla'and St. John will evenly split the cost of golf and Rolette will handle all of the baseball operations.

Each school will be responsible for the costs of transportation to the respective sports' practices.

Palmer said last year, Rolla contributed four baseball players to the Comet squad. He said he expects "three of four" Rolette students to join the golf team.

The cooperative agreements must be approved by the N.D. High School Activities Association.

"I think we're doing a disservice to our students in the area of technology. The bigger project would allow us to stretch our dollars to the maximum."

Brian Palmer, Mount Pleasant School superintendent



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© 2010 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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