The Plymouth School District Board of Education met at 8 p.m. Sept. 20, 2011 in the Plymouth High School Amphitheatre. The board:

• Heard a report about Plymouth High School’s one-to-one netbook computer initiative. learn more
• Heard a report on Plymouth High School’s German exchange program. learn more
• Approved a 5-cent increase in the price of milk. learn more
• Approved a teacher contract and learned of two support staff transfers. learn more
• Approved three out-of-state travel requests. learn more

Click here to watch video of the most recent Board of Education meeting, courtesy of Plymouth Community Television Channel 14.

 

PHS one-to-one netbook computer initiative

The board heard a report about the one-to-one computer initiative, which provides a netbook for each student at Plymouth High School.

The initiative launched a year ago with sophomore and juniors receiving netbooks. The netbooks were returned to this year’s juniors and seniors and distributed to freshmen and sophomores, so now all four grades have the computers.

Very few repairs to the netbooks were needed last year, said Mike Briggs, computer director. All of the machines were returned in working order, he said.

Students valued the machines and took care of them, because they allowed them to be more engaged in school – plus they’re cool, said PHS Principal Dan Mella.

To get teachers ready to incorporate the netbooks into their curriculum, the district offered professional development last summer, said Carrie Dassow, assistant superintendent for curriculum & instruction.

At the end of the first year, the school surveyed students about how much the netbooks were used in each class. Nearly half said they used the computers often in class, for such things as research, collaboration, individual and group writing, and using web 2.0 tools.

The district was able to eliminate three computer labs and decrease the corresponding budget, Mr. Briggs said.

Looking forward, the district wants to see:

• A continued shift toward more collaborative projects.
• Increased use of free web 2.0 programs.
• Increased engagement outside the school day.
• Continued professional development to support teachers.
• Increased use of netbooks at Riverview Middle School.

Learn more:
Click here for a slide show about the netbooks.

PHS German exchange program

Sandra Nicholson, Plymouth High School German teacher, updated the board on the ongoing student and teacher exchange program with a sister school in Germany.

Seventeen German students visited here for three weeks last fall; they were at the high school nearly every day and also spent time at Riverview Middle School.

Fourteen PHS students returned the visit in June. They spent two weeks staying with families and visiting the school there, and one week traveling Germany.

This year will involve a teacher exchange. Thirteen German teachers are coming Oct. 7 for a one-week visit before they head to Madison and Chicago. Plymouth teachers will travel to Germany during spring break.

Mrs. Nicholson said she hopes the exchange goes beyond her classroom to generate shared projects in areas such as science, band, etc.

 

Milk price increase

The board voted to increase the price of milk by 5 cents per half-pint carton to 40 cents. The district participates in a buying consortium, and the new price was negotiated through the consortium.

 

Personnel

The board approved a limited-term contract with Mary Kreple to teach special education part time at Parkview Elementary School. Ms. Kreple retired in June after 20 years with the district.

The board also learned of the following support staff transfers:

• Karen Miller, formerly a regular education aide at Fairview Elementary School, to be a special education aide position at Horizon Elementary School.
• Karen Bubb, formerly an assistant cook, to be a regular education aide at Fairview Elementary School.

 

Out-of-state travel requests

The board approved three out-of-state travel requests:

• For Plymouth High School Spanish teacher Laura Koebel to take student to the Global Village Project in Howell, Minn., from Oct. 7 to 9.
• For Plymouth High School agriculture science teacher Walter Taylor to take students to an FFA poultry judging event at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn., from Oct. 18 to 22.
• For Plymouth High School Spanish teachers to take students to Costa Rica from June 12 to 21, 2012.

 

Summary prepared by Jamie Piontkowski, Plymouth School District communications coordinator