Technology a Big Item at Altamont Board Meeting

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Published on November 14 2017 4:04 pm
Last Updated on November 14 2017 4:06 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Technology was a big item at Monday night's Altamont school board meeting.

The district's Technology Team met earlier this month and began the process of identifying grade level expectations for students. The team will continue to work on the curriculum scope and sequence, as well as advancing use of technology as a teaching and learning tool.

Altamont officials plan to visit Greenville school district in the near future to view their interactive televisions and how they're used in two district classrooms.

Fritchtnitch reported that Altamont will be fiscal agent for a distance learning grant. The grant will be shared with the Oregon, Hutsonville, Mt. Morris and Urbana school districts. The University of Illinois is also a grant partner and will serve as the distance learning hub. Fritchtnitch said the project will benefit Altamont students, but the information can also be shared with other districts.

There was also discussion over what Next Generation technology the district will utilize next. The lease on the current equipment ends next June.

In other business, the Altamont board finalized the final two years of Fritchtnitch's contract prior to his retirement. Salary increases are included based on successful completion of performance goals.

The Board reviewed and discussed the district audit of the past fiscal year's books; accepted the resignation of Stephanie Hudgens; employed junior high Scholastic Bowl coaches Amy Ruckman and Heather Began; and approved Grace Ziegler as volunteer high school girls basketball coach and Mrs. Hite as junior high volleyball volunteer.

Also, the Board heard a representative from G&S Architectural Products of St. Louis has visited the high school gym and took room dimensions and sound tests with a meter, and will be providing a quote for sound baffles for the gym. The information will give the District some idea as to the cost of the baffle work.

Altamont board members approved renewal of worker's compensation insurance coverage; accepted the 2017 school district report card from the State; reviewed the 2018 Board meeting dates and times; and discussed business and education plans for the new greenhouse.

The Board heard from Emma Kuhns, a member of the Altamont FFA, who presented information on an upcoming meeting with the FFA Alumni and supporters of Ag at-large. The meeting will take place December 12 at Altamont Community High School. They also heard from Corletta Bowen and Debi Probst on self-contained Special Education and Special Education guidelines; and heard from the Altamont Junior High Student Council on the Troop Dreams signed cloth for a new world record. Troop Dreams is an organization designed to make military families wishes and dreams come true.

Enrollment at Altamont was reported down 35 students at the grade school from the same month a year earlier, and down 27 students at the high school from the same month a year earlier. It was shared that the Illinois State Board of Education is reporting that 62% of school districts in Illinois are showing a drop in enrollment over last year.