Cleveland schools plan funds for technology

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Cleveland Board of Education is planning to put some money aside for future technology, looking ahead to the day when hardbound textbooks will be a thing of the past.

School board members this week voted to set aside 10 percent of revenue from a half-cent of city sales tax in the fiscal year that begins July 1. That money can be used only for capital projects, including technology.

Technology Director Joan Bradburn said the big software companies such as Apple already are gearing their next generation of educational products to national standards which, in turn, influence most state curriculum standards.

Some smaller school systems already have moved away from textbooks. Blythe-Bower Elementary School principal Kelly Kiser said he knows of a small Oklahoma district in which traditional textbooks no longer are used.

"Technology is a tool. It is something you have to be willing to take hold of and spend time with," he said. "You have to have staff development."

But Schools Director Rick Denning warned the board to go slow until the $8 million Cleveland High School science wing, which is being built with some of that sales tax revenue, is done. The system also is starting a renovation at Stuart Elementary School.

If those costs go over the amount covered by bonds, the difference would have to be made up from the sales tax, Dr. Denning said.

"We have to be very careful with that money," he said, but the system must be ready for future technology.

School board member Murl Dirksen added a provision to the savings plan that the school system staff will come up with a five-year "vision plan" for technology. Since technology changes so fast, that plan will be reviewed annually.

Dr. Denning said technology changes must be done first as pilot programs because of cost. But some money needs to be ready, he said, for changes that will be coming very soon.

An all-technology school system, however, must take into account those who can't afford computers at home, officials said.

Internet security, free home Internet access for poor families and other issues must be addressed first by state and national legislators, Ms. Bradburn said.