Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Technology Levy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District 196 previews possible renewal of technology levy; community survey shows strong support
Summary
District officials previewed a November referendum to renew a 10-year technology levy, outlined uses and gaps, and reported community survey support for renewal and a modest increase.
District 196 officials presented background and early plans on July 14 for a November referendum to renew the district's expiring 2015 capital projects technology levy and described program outcomes, gaps and next steps.
Ed Heyer, chief information officer (title given as presenter), said the 2015 levy funded a 1:1 device program and related supports and that the ten-year effort has provided roughly $60 million over the past decade. He said the current levy will raise about $9,100,000 this school year and supports more than 30,000 devices, mobile device support specialists and district classroom-technology budgets.
"This will be the last year, the tenth year of that 10 year levy and so we're going to be asking for a renewal," Heyer said. He described district-funded technology staff as 14.5 full-time positions, including 12 mobile device support specialists embedded in buildings and district-level roles for inventory and coordination.
The presentation emphasized instructional benefits (classroom iPad use, creativity and accessibility), operational items (network and cybersecurity upgrades), and areas the district identified as gaps if funding is not restored: rising subscription-based digital curriculum costs (annual subscriptions replacing periodic textbook purchases), expanded computer science opportunities beyond current grant funding, additional cybersecurity needs, and expanded career-technical education and CTE/STEM programs.
Dave Lasteter, principal at Thomas Lake Elementary, and Julie Biersack, learning and technology specialist, highlighted classroom impacts: student collaboration, digital citizenship, accessibility supports for diverse learners and the district's digital-learning framework. A district-conducted Morris Leatherman survey of a randomized 500 respondents found 85% support renewing the technology levy and 64% support increasing funds; other survey results showed strong community ratings of district education quality and trust in district leadership.
Administration said it will present a specific ballot question and any recommended amount at the board's August 11 meeting and asked the public to stay informed and to participate in the November election if the board moves forward. No formal action was taken at the July 14 meeting; the board received the first reading and background information.
