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Politics & Government

Cyberschool Student Will Walk at Graduation, Board Decides

Saucon Valley School Board members also discussed the district's "1-1 Initiative," which would provide many secondary students with iPads, at their April 10, 2012 meeting.

At its April 10 meeting, the Saucon Valley School Board voted 7-2 in favor of a student request waiver to participate in this year's graduation ceremony.

Board member Lanita Lum explained to the board that she had met with the student recently and learned about her story.

Lum said the student became pregnant and eventually finished her schooling through a cyberschool. However, according to criteria, the student did not have enough credits to earn a Saucon Valley diploma.

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With the board's decision, the student will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony June 15. However, she is not receiving a Saucon Valley diploma.

In an article published April 11, the Morning Call identified the student as Jodie Rosati, 18.

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The article indicated that the administration disagrees with the board's decision, but plans to comply with it.

In other business, school district assistant superintendent Dr. Carl Atkinson provided the board with updated information about the .

The 1-1 initiative is a technology plan that would provide students in secondary grades with iPads, which they could use in class and at home to complete homework assignments.

Atkinson said that for the first year, the district would only provide seventh grade students with the iPads, and for the first month students would only be allowed to use the devices in school.

The second year of the initiative, both seventh and eighth grade students would be provided with iPads, and the third year grades seven through 12 would all be using the devices.

Teacher and instructional coach Rita Chuhran presented the board with some of the benefits of using an iPad in school.

"Every student has their own needs," she said. "They will have 24/7 access to assist with those needs."

She explained that there are thousands of mostly free appilcations teachers and students can use in the classroom. She said some of the many other benefits include decreased printing costs, free textbooks, and the student's ability to highlight and take notes in the virtual textbooks.

Atkinson told the board that there will be training for staff, students and parents. He said seventh grade teachers have already received some iPad training.

principal Pamela Bernardo told the board that she is looking at digital citizenship policies and how to implement them. She also said that the student handbook is being updated for seventh grade students.

If the board votes to implement the initiative for the next school year, a blog will be provided online to help answer questions or concerns that parents or students may have.

The board will be discussing the initiative at its April 23 meeting.

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