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School district receives federal technology grant
The Riverton School District was recently notified by the Illinois State Board of Education that it received a competitive technology grant, called Enhancing Education Through
Technology.
This grant, which was written by RES Principal Stacey Binegar, will bring in $300,000 to the district in FY10 to be used for technology. The grant includes support in the areas of
personnel and equipment.
Using the grant funds, the district recently hired Julie Timm to a position of Instructional Technology. Mrs. Timm has been a teacher in the district for several years and has her
master’s degree in instructional technology.
Her position will focus on supporting teachers through training, support for planning and modeling the use of technology in the classroom to enhance learning.
The grant will also allow the district to hire an additional technology support position. This person will work with the two existing network technicians in the district to maintain
the network, along with equipment and software.
In addition to the new staff, the district will also be able to purchase a variety of software and hardware to support the use of technology in the district. Some of those equipment
purchases will include: four portable wireless labs (two will be purchased for use at the middle school and two at the high school – the ES already has three wireless labs);
Wireless Hand Held Devices; LCD Projectors; Interactive Classroom Document Projectors, Interactive White Boards; etc.
There are also a variety of software purchases. They include RTImDirect, which is a data warehouse program that will be used to track our progress relative to “Response to
Intervention (RtI); MAP Software, which is the student assessment system we use for math, reading and science; and various other instructional software programs.
In addition, the district will create 10 model “smart” classrooms in the district. These classrooms, which will be spread across the district, will have all of the latest technology
that has shown to enhance learning. These classroom teachers will receive intensive training on the use of technology and will serve as leaders throughout the district.
The district is also excited to report that this grant is supposed to be a three-year grant, with varying levels of funding each year. Of course, this funding is contingent upon
appropriations at the federal level. This grant will provide many opportunities for the students in the district. Technology has shown to be an effective way to engage students in
their education.
The Riverton School District was recently notified by the Illinois State Board of Education that it received a competitive technology grant, called Enhancing Education Through
Technology.
This grant, which was written by RES Principal Stacey Binegar, will bring in $300,000 to the district in FY10 to be used for technology. The grant includes support in the areas of
personnel and equipment.
Using the grant funds, the district recently hired Julie Timm to a position of Instructional Technology. Mrs. Timm has been a teacher in the district for several years and has her
master’s degree in instructional technology.
Her position will focus on supporting teachers through training, support for planning and modeling the use of technology in the classroom to enhance learning.
The grant will also allow the district to hire an additional technology support position. This person will work with the two existing network technicians in the district to maintain
the network, along with equipment and software.
In addition to the new staff, the district will also be able to purchase a variety of software and hardware to support the use of technology in the district. Some of those equipment
purchases will include: four portable wireless labs (two will be purchased for use at the middle school and two at the high school – the ES already has three wireless labs);
Wireless Hand Held Devices; LCD Projectors; Interactive Classroom Document Projectors, Interactive White Boards; etc.
There are also a variety of software purchases. They include RTImDirect, which is a data warehouse program that will be used to track our progress relative to “Response to
Intervention (RtI); MAP Software, which is the student assessment system we use for math, reading and science; and various other instructional software programs.
In addition, the district will create 10 model “smart” classrooms in the district. These classrooms, which will be spread across the district, will have all of the latest technology
that has shown to enhance learning. These classroom teachers will receive intensive training on the use of technology and will serve as leaders throughout the district.
The district is also excited to report that this grant is supposed to be a three-year grant, with varying levels of funding each year. Of course, this funding is contingent upon
appropriations at the federal level. This grant will provide many opportunities for the students in the district. Technology has shown to be an effective way to engage students in
their education.
Issue Date: Aug. 20, 2009
