Photo by Teah Dowling
Chazy Central Rural School landed over $300,000 to expand technology. The district’s first step is replacing the outdated classroom technology and security infrastructure.
CHAZY — Chazy Central Rural School is one step closer to merging the latest developments in the teaching and tech fields.
The district submitted its technology proposal to the state for review this June and received $378,806 through the Smart Schools Bond Act.
The board of education held a public hearing last month and unanimously passed the plan the following meeting.
Now, the school’s project needs to be approved by the state Department of Education.
If the district receives a green light, they plan on dividing up the overall plan in three to four years. In the first year, the district plans on allocating about $60,000 to classroom technology and $40,000 to high tech security features.
“This first year will allow our teachers to have better instructional devices,” CCRS Superintendent John Fairchild said. “It will also help expand learning outside these four walls.”
Mimeos and smartboards in classrooms, which are more than six years old, are no longer functioning properly and are in need of an upgrade, said Fairchild, allowing more integration of online content into class lessons.
The district plans on replacing them with SHARP Aquos Board Interactive Display System — a 70-inch LED class screen with touch screen capabilities.
As part of the school’s recent capital project, switches and routers were replaced, giving the entire building wireless internet access.
In terms of security, the district plans on replacing the aging 12-camera video surveillance system, which was installed more than a decade ago and presents challenges to the staff who use it.
For the second phase, funds will go toward upgrading computers in classroom labs. Specific machines, along with how much will be allocated, have not been decided.
For more information about the plan, visit www.edline.net/pages/CCRS.
