LH considers technology upgrades
Members of the Laurel Highlands School Board were urged Monday to approve certain technology upgrades as part of the push to prepare students and the district for the future. At the regular meeting Wednesday, the school board will vote to approve the purchase of business office software, two servers to service the high school and administration networks for the student accounting software and the business office software and 25 computers and licenses.
The computers and licenses will cost $15,977. Other prices were not listed.
Business Manager Joyce Estocak said the money to purchase the items has been budgeted, noting the purchases will not affect the district’s budget.
Tobal saw the need for the improvements upon recent visits to the schools. He said the business office software is “outdated” (Estocak confirmed it was purchased in 1976) and it places a burden on secretaries.
“I think this is the first step. We have to meet the needs of our business office and our secretaries that work here,” said Tobal.
Tobal added that it is fair to say that LH has a good technology foundation. Every teacher, he said, has a computer, and mobile computer labs are in the schools.
“We have started to move, but we now must look into software purchasing,” Tobal added.
District Superintendent Dr. Ronald Sheba said he is concerned that if the software is not updated, the necessary support people to maintain that software will not be available since the software provider cutback on the number of support people.
The technology upgrades interrelate with the new high school curriculum/programs to be offered to students in grade 10 this coming school year. The school board approved the new curriculum at the last regular meeting.
The district’s Director of Education Dr. Gary Brain said with Advanced Acoustic Concepts of North Union Township and Parametric Technology Corp. (PTC), which has announced plans to open a client service center in Uniontown, local jobs in the technological field are increasing.
He told the board that the school district may need to add staff or move some people around in order to meet advancing needs in the school’s Information Technology program, one out of several courses of study students will choose to focus on upon entering the 10th grade.
“There are jobs in this area and we need to prepare these students,” said Brain.
Brain added that he wants to make sure the curriculum is “quintessential” and in line with standard.
Director Beverly Beal expressed concern over disadvantaged students being able to meet the math requirements under the new program.
Brain said there exists a certain number of students “who we will have to fight with no matter what,” adding that safety nets such as mandatory after-school tutoring programs with transportation provided are being applied.
“Our goal is to make these kids totally productive, no matter what they choose to do,” said Tobal.
Tobal said he would like the school district to implement periodic checks to ensure that each teacher is implementing an updated curriculum.
“I always hear two things on this board,” said Tobal. “Accountability and responsibility, and this is what we are trying to build into this goal plan.”