It’s the 21st century, but Hamilton County schools still haven’t quite caught up.
Nine months ago, Hamilton County Superintendent Rick Smith announced an ambitious plan to give all students iPads, or other tablet computers, both to enhance the classroom experience and to get schools up to speed for online tests by 2014.
But then came April, and despite months of talk about major systemwide technology upgrades, school officials budgeted no new cash for the estimated $20 million needed to buy iPads and provide infrastructure improvements here in the Gig City.
Instead, Smith said schools would rely on support from parent and community groups, and on students bringing devices from home. Officials also expect to receive about $1.3 million from Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed $51 million fund for statewide technology upgrades.
Meanwhile, down the road in North Georgia, brand new Saddle Ridge School in Walker County’s Rock Spring is about to open up for classes with no text books – only iPads that can search cyberspace for learning tools.