https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/Edwardsville-school-board-OK-s-600k-for-tech-12640553.php
Edwardsville school board OK's $600k for tech upgrades
Published 12:00 am CDT, Tuesday, April 15, 2014
EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville School District entered into its second lease-purchase agreement in recent years Monday as it continues to improve the district's technology.
The School Board unanimously approved the five-year, $600,000 purchase-lease agreement with American Capital for the acquisition, purchase and installation of technology improvements. Those improvements will include replacing 518 computers, 10 servers and two routers throughout the district and upgrading the financial management and student database systems. Upgrading the main switches in Edwardsville High School's network is also included in the agreement.
Director of Technology Bill Miener said the tentative plan is to place the order for the new computers in May to have them in early June, at which point they'll begin installing them in schools. Miener said the district plans to have all the replacement computers installed by the first day of the 2014-15 school year.
On top of those upgrades, the district is also testing out tablets for teachers to use in conjunction with the PolyVision interactive boards that were placed in district classrooms last summer. Those tablets will be purchased with $250,000 the district received from a donor. The district is working with vendors to determine the cost to provide wireless access to all buildings and classrooms.
The purchase-lease agreement is the second the district has entered into with American Capital since 2011. The two sides previously agreed to a $450,000 agreement for technology upgrades, which was paid off in July 2013.
The 518 computers being replaced with this agreement are all more than seven years old, according to the district. The annual interest rate on the loan is 2.66 percent, and the annual lease payment will be $126,381.79. Those payments will begin on July 1, after all the equipment has been received.
District considering adding agriculture science classes
The district is considering offering agriculture science classes in place of the more traditional industrial arts courses.
Citing increased enrollment in the agricultural science program at the high school since 2004-05, the district has recommended the program replace industrial arts — more commonly known as shop class — at the middle school level. The new program will feed into the agricultural science program at Edwardsville High School, which currently has 125 students among its eight courses offered.
At the middle school, the program will touch on plant and animal science, horticulture, veterinary science and more as it prepares students for the next level. Other activities will include science, technology, education and math (STEM)-based projects, and a Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter will be established at the middle school as well.
The proposed change is currently in the discussion phase, and no timetable for implementation has been set at this time.
SIUE to look at bus routes
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville geography professor Dr. Randy Pearson and district officials will begin a study in May to look at the efficiency and safety of the district's bus routes. The district and Pearson will likely begin conducting public hearings to disclose their findings in October.
Nathan Grimm may be reached at 618-463-2515 or on Twitter @GrimmTelegraph.