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Schools

School Board Questions Travel Request for iPad Research

Saucon Valley School District assistant superintendent Carl Atkinson will travel to Massachusetts to learn about iPad implementation in schools.

Saucon Valley School Board members questioned assistant superintendent Carl Atkinson about his travel request to visit a high school in Massachusetts at the board's Feb. 28 meeting.

Atkinson, along with supervisor of technology systems Michael Hanssen, technology integration coach Rita Chuhran and high school librarian Amber Ziemba, will travel to Burlington High School in Burlington, Mass. to learn about the school's implementation of iPad devices.

The total cost of the trip as presented to the board is $945, including travel, meals, lodging and the cost of paying for substitutes for Chuhran and Ziemba.

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School board members questioned Atkinson about why they are traveling to Massachusetts and not a closer district.

Atkinson said he and his technology committee have visited closer districts, but that they were using laptop computers.

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“We’ve talked with teachers and we’ve talked to students (during those visits),” Atkinson said. “The student input was most beneficial. We learned from visiting the sites, what they liked and disliked. The difference is these schools were using laptops, not iPads.”

School board member Ralph Puerta said he was uneasy with the iPad initiative because he said he believes the popular iPad is “a limited device” and does not allow for easy typing.

Atkinson said the iPads, which would cost about $500 per student including applications, will provide “24/7 access to technology for all students.” He also said that the applications available for iPads are getting better every day.

Board member Lanita Lum agreed with Atkinson.

“There isn’t anything on an iPad I can’t do on a computer,” Lum said. “Using it in the business world has been great.”

Lum also said a small keyboard can be bought and attached to the iPad case.

The board voted to approve the Massachusetts trip, but still has to vote on .

In other business, the board approved a change in .

College students will now be admitted to  sporting events for $3, which is the current student fee. The adult price will stay the same ($5). Saucon Valley senior citizens (age 62 and up) and military personnel are eligible for free admission to athletic events.

Senior citizens can go to the district athletic office to obtain a free pass that can be used at all Saucon Valley sporting events.

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