The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

October 11, 2012

Sustainable technology an ECPS goal

Staff Writer MIRANDA BAINES

TARBORO — Technology was one of the topics of discussion at the Edgecombe County Board of Education’s Monday night meeting, as the board learned the district is applying for a Race to the Top Grant with the goal of implementing sustainable technology in the schools.

“We’re excited about this,” said ECPS Superintendent John Farrelly. “There are a lot of possibilities here.”

District technology director Ed Chase presented the plan to the board, outlining the costs of implementing the technology at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

“We do need to think about this in terms of operational cost. It will be ongoing,” said Chase, urging the board to view the technology as a “sustainable” acquisition.

One of the goals in the district’s recently developed strategic plan is “Edgecombe County Public Schools will be governed by 21st Century systems.” Chase described the basic technology needs as “the least that we can get by with in order to have our staff operate at the modality at which we have to operate in a 21st Century environment.”

The needs at the elementary level include a laptop for each teacher with a four-year lifespan, a document camera, a network laser printer, a laptop cart with a four-year lifespan for every six classrooms. The projected one-time buy cost of the equipment is $2,085,600, while the projected annualized four-year lease is $521,400. Basic technology needs at the middle and high school levels were similar.

The need for upgrading technology is pressing, since the district historically has not spent a lot of dollars in that area, Farrelly said. The technology will be used as a tool to supplement learning.

“We’re going down the road of extended school years and summer schools, so that will be an opportunity to enhance those programs,” he noted.

The district has been working on the application, which is due Oct. 30,  for about six weeks. Farrelly said the district is working with a grant writer who has had success in the past, and is up against other districts that have applied for Race to the Top funding in the past and been unsuccessful, increasing ECPS’ odds.

Technology is also the focus of one of the primary goals in the school improvement plans that principals presented at Monday’s meeting. The board approved all the school plans by a unanimous vote.

Michael Turner, principal of South Edgecombe Middle School, said he wants learning in his school to be “student-centered” and he wants technology to be a part of that.

“We want our students using the computer to maximize their learning,” said Turner. The goal in the school’s improvement plan is that student use of technology during classroom instruction will increase 50 percent by May 2013.

Ronda Sortino, principal of Pattillo Elementary School, said that while her staff is making “tremendous strides” in acquiring new technology for the building, the school’s technology is still “antiquated at best.”

Lisa Howell, principal of Coker-Wimberly Elementary School, told the board she is scheduling professional development sessions for her teachers to sharpen their skills on the use of the current technology in the school.

Sandra Joyce’s plan is for her teachers at Princeville Elementary School to use technology as an instructional tool.

“What we have we truly want to use with our students during instruction,” she said. She added that she is looking forward to the day when she will have wireless Internet access in her school.

Farrelly said his ultimate goal is to have wireless Internet access not only in the schools but also on the school buses, which will allow students to use their laptops on the way to school and create Internet “hot spots” in the county.

Text Only
Local News
  • CRIME.jpg Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation

    After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
    After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • S.Herring.jpg Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday

    Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
    Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • DWI-Tests.jpg NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Susan-Barnes-headshot.jpg Measles cases have state health officials concerned

    Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
    “It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • MLK-Property.jpg County still looking for bids on 41 properties

    While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
    County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Buddy.jpg Scouts honor ‘Buddy’ Hooks

    Try as he might, master of ceremonies Dave Sharpe was unable to talk someone into telling an unexpected story on Ellis “Buddy” Hooks as Hooks was recognized as the 2013 Edgecombe County Distinguished Citizen Award recipient by the Boy Scouts of America.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sheriff_Knight.jpg Sheriff's Department to host junior academy

    The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a junior academy for students ages 13-18 years old. Sheriff James Knight believes that this is the most important times of a juvenile's life and wants them to learn about the criminal justice system.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Andrews.jpg Andrews assumes new position at ECPS Central Services

    John Farrelly, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), announced this week that Shawna Andrews has been named the Director of Middle Schools and Title I in the Educational Program Services Office at Central Services.
    Andrews, who most recently served as the Director of Elementary Schools and Title I, began her tenure with ECPS in 1995 as a math and science teacher at C.B. Martin Middle School. Following her completion of a Master’s in School Administration, she served as an administrative intern at G.W. Bulluck Elementary, SouthWest Edgecombe High School and Tarboro High School before being named an assistant principal at Tarboro High School in 2003.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Big ‘Happening’ set for Tarboro Saturday

    At no time of the year is Tarboro’s Town Common more bustling with activity than the second Saturday in May. It’s that time of year again and the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common is set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
    “I think we’ve got a good day coming up,” said Carol Banks, event coordinator for the Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council. “We’ve got record-breaking (number of) vendors. So far we’re up to 56.”

    May 13, 2013

  • Pinetops 300 kicks into gear this weekend

    One of the biggest community events in the southern part of Edgecombe County – the Pinetops 300 – is set for Friday and Saturday at its usual spot – 309 School St. at the ballpark in Pinetops. The truck and tractor pull, South Edgecombe Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser of the year, is a longstanding tradition.

    May 13, 2013