Caledonia Argus

School board approves technology contract

Posted: 1/8/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

At its Monday night meeting, the school board unanimously approved contracting with Computer Bay for consultation services that would facilitate in creating a technology vision for the districtís future.

Jeanne Misch of the districtís technology committee reported to the board that after reviewing presentations from JTEC and Computer Bay, the committee saw Computer Bay as being more forward thinking and more thorough in its planning.

The district currently contracts with JTEC for computer support services.

Roesler who had originally initiated an answer to the districtís long term vision for technology, noted that after seeing presentations from both companies, she was most impressed with Computer Bay. ìThey were very proactive. It think itís worth the $2,650 to get the ball rolling if we can. Right now no one is helping us,î she said.

The contract for Computer Bay is $2,650 for 35 hours of service at a $75 per hour maximum.

Misch explained that she has felt that the technology in the school over the last few years has stagnated. There are many out-dated pieces of equipment. Computer Bay can help the district create a technology plan.

Secondary Principal Brian Doty added that the administration also has a technology committee with a plan that was formed to access e-rate funding. However, that technology committee serves a different purpose.

Doty said that itís obvious that technology is very complex area. A few years ago, he recalled the district spending $240,000 in two years on technology.

The district also had spent a significant amount of money on a contract with the Virtual School in Winona to teach staff how to make better use of the technology.

Now, however, it may be more difficult for the district to keep up to date on technology because of the budget deficit and the costs to maintain it.

It was noted that the dynamics of the technology committee need to be reviewed to include administration in meetings on a more regular basis. Community members may also be included.

Four to five committee members attended the board meeting to support their recommendation for Computer Bay.

Before the committee left the meeting, Schulte asked if they had suggestions on what would make their committee better. ìOver the years, I have seen a lot of frustrated people (committee members). Itís something that we have to pay attention to,î he said.

After the committee left the meeting, Lingen noted that Misch is the only permanent member of the committee. ìPeople come when they can,î she said.

Schulte responded that that type of arrangement is not a committee.

Whitesitt elected board chair

Cheryl Whitesitt is ISD #299ís newest board chair after being nominated by Suzanne Roesler and voted in by secret ballot Monday night, January 7.

She replaced former board chair Bruce Bulman who was nominated for chair for this year by Dave Klinski.

Other elections were made: Dave Klinski was voted back as vice chair, Barb Hurley was elected as clerk to replace Whitesitt, Roesler was elected as treasurer, and Chuck Schulte as legislative liaison.

About 15 other appointments were made for board members to serve on committees.

All meetings to begin at 7 p.m.

At the suggestion of Dave Klinski, the board voted to begin meetings year round at 7 p.m. versus a schedule where half of the year the meetings began at 7:30 p.m. and the other half they begin at 7 p.m.

Klinski reasoned that the the earlier meeting time would facilitate the boardís increased work load.

Board continues on corrections for SOD plan

The board discussed a nine page plan for getting the district out of statutory operating debt (SOD) document. It will still need corrections before being submitted to the Department of Children, Families and Learning.

The board will receive an updated copy of the SOD plan before approving it.

The plan describes the district, explains how it got into SOD, and what measures it will take to get of of SOD within the next three to five years.

Budget cutting committee to meet this Thursday

The budget committee will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the CHS library to discuss budget cutting. It is open to the public.

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