FR to expand use of devices

FORT RECOVERY — The class that began Fort Recovery High School’s one-to-one computer program graduated Sunday. The school system is planning to expand its use of technology in the classroom next year.
Technology coordinator Travis Tegtmeyer told Fort Recovery School Board on Tuesday that plans call for making devices available to students from kindergarten through high school.
Fort Recovery will purchase 30 iPad minis each for kindergarten, first and second grades, with each teacher receiving an iPad. Those grade levels had been using Google Chromebook, with a few stations in each classroom.
“My almost 2-year-old son can navigate an iPad fairly easily,” said Tegtmeyer of the reason for the switch. “They’re so instinctive and intuitive. I just think it’s going to be extremely beneficial.”
Students will then switch to using Chromebooks, with a set for each grade level, in third and fourth grades. The timing of the change makes sense, said Tegtmeyer, because students are first assigned their Google accounts and email addresses in third grade.
A modified one-to-one program will be implemented for fifth through eighth graders, meaning each student will have his or her own device, but it will not be allowed to leave the school. And the current one-to-one high school initiative — each student has his or her own laptop for use at school and home, with the option of purchasing it after graduation — will continue with minor adjustments.
One of those is that students will be limited to one “major break” per year as opposed to the current four.
“We’re going to try to instill a little more responsibility in the kids,” said Tegtmeyer. “A majority of the kids do pretty good, but there are some kids that … take advantage of that …”
Tegtmeyer noted that at least 85 percent of this year’s seniors are buying their laptops, and the school will return the rest for credit on future purchases.
He also told the board will have student assistants during six of the eight high school class periods next year. He hopes to form a middle school student tech team with help from tech teacher Cindy Moorman to handle minor technical problems.
That assistance will help, he noted, because the school system will have more than 800 devices.
“I need a small army of people to help maintain them,” Tegtmeyer said. “It’s great for me. It’s great for the kids. I’m always willing to teach the kids.”
He also plans on having quarterly meetings with staff to evaluate how devices are being used and what improvements can be made in the future.
In other business, board members Jose Faller, Amy Bihn, Aaron Guggenbiller, Ginny Fortkamp and Dave Hull:
•Approved contracts for athletics director Kurt Rammel, high school coaches Chris Guggenbiller (boys basketball), Joe Bruns (girls golf, assistant basketball), Tony Overton (JV basketball), Brian Patch (girls basketball), Jeff Vaughn (assistant girls basketball), Lori Pottkotter (JV girls basketball), Chelsea Rogers (volleyball), Travis Guggenbiller (JV volleyball), Brent Niekamp (football, weight room supervisor), David Blockberger (assistant football), Toby Metzler (assistant football), Kirk Link (assistant football), Nick Kallas (cross country), Brad Evers (boys golf), Mindy Bubp (swimming), middle school coaches Dave Blockberger (boys basketball), Sean Kahlig (assistant boys basketball), Chelsea Rogers (girls basketball), Miranda Muhlenkamp (assistant girls basketball), Kevin Eying (football), Cody Fiely (assistant football), Craig Garman (assistant football), Jordan Staugler (assistant football), Carly Staugler (volleyball), and Emily May (assistant volleyball), advisors Victoria Horseman (art club) and Amber Fennig (cheerleading) and color guard instructor Sam Piehl.
•Hired Tami Winner as a teacher for the 2015-16 school year, Laura Heitkamp as a teacher for STEM summer camp and Crystal Fullenkamp as a teacher for robotics camp.
•Agreed to pay incoming superintendent Justin Firks a rate of $300 per day, not to exceed 20 days, from May 20 through July 12.
•Heard from elementary school principal Tracy Hein-Evers that 82 of 84 third grade students have passed the state test for the third grade reading guarantee. The other two students are exempt.
Also, 65 students have signed up for kindergarten next year, and all elementary school students will meet their new teachers for 2015-16 at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
•Approved the use of E-Days for the 2015-16 school year. Vaughn said parent survey results were much more positive about E-Days after adjustments were made this year following their debut in 2013-14.
•Voted to support a proposal to create a central location at Wright State University Lake Campus for Tri-Star, a program that provides career technical training for high school students in nine area school districts.
•Accepted donations totaling nearly $1,500, including a $1,000 donation from the Fort Recovery Business Advisory Council to the library.
•Transferred $100,000 from the general fund to the termination benefit fund and made several other adjustments in appropriations.
•Heard from middle school principal Matt Triplett that a VEX Robotics camp for eighth graders will be held during the last week of July at Wright State University Lake Campus and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camp for sixth graders is scheduled for the first week of August.
•Approved field trips to the Future Business Leaders of America national conference June 29 through July 3 and Findlay University for girls basketball summer came June 18 and 19.
•Accepted the resignation of Molly Briner as a part-time cook.