Danville schools officials reveal plans for stimulus funds
DANVILLE – Danville teachers will have new professional development opportunities, students and teachers will have more technology at their fingertips and two older elementary schools could be rewired to handle more technology, thanks to federal stimulus funding.
School officials said those are some of the things they're looking at doing with the district's $3.6 million allocation.
"We all feel that it's a wonderful opportunity for the district," Educational Support Programs Director Diane Hampel said. She and Special Education Director Steve Runyon are putting together grant proposals to the state board of education, detailing how the district will use its share of stimulus funding. "It's also a huge responsibility. We want to make sure we do it right and that what we do makes a lasting impact on our students ... and in boosting their success."
The district will receive a little more than $1.72 million in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Part B) funding. The money is used for special education services. Because the district met certain benchmarks for special education in the 2007-2008 year, officials can use 50 percent of that funding to benefit the entire district, Runyon said.
Runyon said he and other administrators would like to use some of the money to rewire Cannon Elementary, which is 85 years old, and Edison Elementary, which is nearly 80 years old. Buildings and grounds officials said the schools need to be rewired to handle more power and to redistribute the power better throughout the buildings. Currently, some of the classrooms have only one outlet, and teachers must plug computers, printers, window air conditioners and other equipment into a power strip.
Administrators would also like to add desktop computers, Smart Boards, projectors and other technology in classrooms for special-education students and those with disabilities throughout the district, as well as give laptops to special education teachers.
That technology can enhance learning in many ways, Runyon said.
"I think technology presents unlimited ways of differentiating instruction," he said, adding that special education teachers have provided input on their needs. "It allows students to work independently, work on special projects and work with instructional materials geared toward their ability level."
Runyon said another chunk would be used for professional development. "It wouldn't be limited to special education," he said, adding that the money needs to be focused on special education issues and early intervention services. "That category would be things like Response to Intervention and our (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program."
Funding also would be used to boost instructional material and supplies for special education classrooms, most likely focusing on math, reading, writing and social and daily living skills. "The classroom teachers will have significant input on the specific materials that will be purchased," Runyon said.
Runyon said officials also have been discussing using some of the money to add an information technology support person to deal with the added technology and a special education teacher for the alternative programming.
The district will get a little more than $1.82 million in Title 1 funding. Title 1 funds are used to improve achievement in reading and math in Title 1 schools, which include all eight elementary schools and South View Middle School. Hampel said administrators are looking at using the money to boost technology, materials and professional development for teachers.
"When we look at the ISAT scores ... that's where we really need to put our money," she said, referring to teacher training.
Hampel said officials are reviewing professional development proposals from several companies to determine what would help local teachers most. "We're not just sending teachers to a workshop here and there," she said, adding that officials would prefer bringing the training to the teachers with training sessions several times a month and possibly classroom teaching demonstrations and one-on-one meetings during teachers' planning time.
In addition, the district also will receive $63,000 in early childhood special education funds.
"Our focus will be on technology, professional development and instructional materials and supplies," Runyon said.
Hampel said the Title 1 funds proposal must be turned into the state by Nov. 2. Runyon said there is no deadline for his proposals, but he hopes to have them in by Nov. 15.
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