Digital Learning Plan
I was not a fan of the first Digital Learning Plan presented to the BOE. My major concerns had to do with equity and costs. I also had concerns about the provisions for professional development of staff.
The first plan did not provide digital devices to all schools in Washington County right from the onset. It would have been several years before devices were in place in ALL schools. Yearly costs were projected to be more than what was currently being spent each year on technology. Those many extra dollars would have needed to come from other areas of the budget – areas that really didn’t have extra funds to spare.
Of the incumbents running for re-election, I was the only one to express reservations about that plan. Enough of my colleagues, however, also had reservations - enough to cause the Superintendent to withdraw the plan and send it back for revision. Those of us who expressed concerns were called naysayers and obstructionists and were said to lack vision for 21st century schools. With any major initiative, the concept might be good but, as the saying goes, “the devil is in the details,” and I have seen enough educational initiatives “built in flight” to know that details are important.
Guess what? The Superintendent came back with a revised plan that most observers admit is better than the first. It provides digital devices to the students of all our schools and comes in at a cost far less than the first plan. And further, the entire implementation strategy seems to be much better. The plan was funded by a 7-0 vote.
File this under “not a rubber stamp.”
The first plan did not provide digital devices to all schools in Washington County right from the onset. It would have been several years before devices were in place in ALL schools. Yearly costs were projected to be more than what was currently being spent each year on technology. Those many extra dollars would have needed to come from other areas of the budget – areas that really didn’t have extra funds to spare.
Of the incumbents running for re-election, I was the only one to express reservations about that plan. Enough of my colleagues, however, also had reservations - enough to cause the Superintendent to withdraw the plan and send it back for revision. Those of us who expressed concerns were called naysayers and obstructionists and were said to lack vision for 21st century schools. With any major initiative, the concept might be good but, as the saying goes, “the devil is in the details,” and I have seen enough educational initiatives “built in flight” to know that details are important.
Guess what? The Superintendent came back with a revised plan that most observers admit is better than the first. It provides digital devices to the students of all our schools and comes in at a cost far less than the first plan. And further, the entire implementation strategy seems to be much better. The plan was funded by a 7-0 vote.
File this under “not a rubber stamp.”
electMelissaWilliams.com
Committee to Elect Melissa Williams : David Williams, Treasurer
Committee to Elect Melissa Williams : David Williams, Treasurer