Board seeks technology grant

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REGION 16 — Region 16 will pursue a state grant that will allow for technology upgrades in the district.

The Board of Education on Wednesday authorized the district to apply for a grant that would help bring the district up to 21st century standards.

Matthew Brennan, Region 16’s director of technology, said if he were to grade the district on its technology infrastructure, he would give it “a solid B.”

“Things are good, but there’s room for improvement,” Brennan said.

The grant would help pay for more than $40,600 of upgrades in Region 16. The district would be responsible for $13,512 and the state would foot the bill for more than $27,000.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin said the district is aiming to have a 3-to-1 device ratio in each classroom.

“A 3-to1 ratio is a great goal,” Yamin said. “It reflects us being in line with our goals for technology in the classroom.”

At a recent open house event with parents and stakeholders, Yamin said he hopes to more fully integrate technology into the curriculum at all grade levels.

“We’re putting things in place and developing the infrastructure for moving forward,” Yamin said. “I want us to be as high performing a district as possible and see what we can do to achieve that.”

Region 16 this year fully implemented Schoology, a web-based learning management system that allows students, parents and teachers to interact and collaborate, at the middle and high school levels.

The district also has 650 Chromebooks distributed between Long River Middle School in Prospect and Laurel Ledge Elementary School and Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls. Students are also using Google Apps for Education.

“We have tools out there that are being used,” Brennan said. “It’s a promising start for that stuff.”