BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gregg Cruickshank                                                                           Jeff Jorgenson - President                                                                            Carolyn Maher

Superintendent / 7-12 Principal                                                                    Randy Bishop – Vice-President                                                                    PK-6 Principal

2754 Knox Road; Box 609                                                                              Heidi Lowthorp                                                                                                 1002 Illinois St.; Box 609

Sidney, IA  51652                                                                                              Janet Teten                                                                                                       Sidney, IA  51652

712-374-2141                                                                                                    Mike Daly                                                                                                            712-374-2647

712-374-2013  FAX                                                                                           Joyce Morgan – Board Secretary                                                                712-374-2648  FAX

gcruickshank@sidney.k12.ia.us                                                                                                                                                                                              cmaher@sidney.k12.ia.us

Sidney Schools Investigates 1-to-1 Laptop Initiative

            On Wednesday, March 26 a group representing Sidney Community Schools traveled to Arnold, NE to attend a 1-to-1 laptop workshop sponsored by Apple Computers. The Arnold, NE school district is in the second year of providing a laptop computer to all of their high school students.  Administrators, teachers, and students demonstrated how the 1-to-1 Initiative has transformed teaching and learning in their school district.

            Those attending from Sidney were Heidi Lowthorp – School Board Member; Gregg Cruickshank – Superintendent/Secondary Principal; Susy Clayton – Technology Coordinator; Rhonda Sheldon – Life Science Teacher; and Maryann Angeroth – School Improvement Coordinator.  Sidney Schools began a partnership with Apple Computers in 2006 – 07.  The district was awarded a $90,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Education to integrate technology into the curriculum.  The grant allowed the district to purchase wireless laptop computer labs, the necessary infrastructure, and fund professional development activities, to create learning projects that are hosted as podcasts on the district’s website.

            In November 2007 Cruickshank and Clayton attended a 1-to-1 workshop at Omaha Westside.  Westside is in the fourth year of providing laptop computers to all 2000 of their high school students.  The Arnold workshop gave the Sidney group an opportunity to investigate how a 1-to-1 is implemented in a small, rural school district.  Arnold has a K-12 enrollment of 160 students.

            On April 16, representatives from Apple Computers will be in Sidney to discuss implementation plans with Cruickshank, Clayton, Elementary Principal Carolyn Maher, Business Manager Joyce Morgan, and board members.  The district is looking at leasing options funded from the following revenue sources - local option sales and serivce tax (LOSST), physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL), and federal grants.  Additional infrastructure and professional development needs will also be discussed and considered.