That was one possibility presented to the Olympia School Board Monday night, as board members started to consider options for possible levies for technology or construction, or a construction bond, in February.
Netbooks for all high school students is “not an absolute critical need,” said Ron Morsette, the district coordinator of technology. “In the last year, we’ve seen a device called a netbook. The price is less than half a laptop. ... I want to begin some discussion at this point.”
Netbooks are similar to laptop computers, but are smaller and have fewer features.
Morsette also presented other possible technology upgrades for the district, including interactive whiteboards, amplifier systems so all students can hear the teacher, and a new phone system to replace the district’s system, which he said has become harder to maintain.
No formal proposal on construction or technology was presented Monday night, but the deadline to place a tax measure on the February ballot approaches in late December. Other Thurston County school districts, including North Thurston and Tumwater, plan to ask voters to renew their maintenance and operations levies next February. Those levies contribute to the districts’ general fund.
Olympia School District, which is two years into a four-year maintenance and operations levy, won’t need to pass a maintenance and operations levy in February. But, the $8.9 million, four-year levy earmarked for technology which voters approved in 2006 expires after next year.
The levy bought computers for classrooms, system upgrades, and paid for teachers who help other teachers work with the technology.
In the past four years, the district has paid for all its technology upgrades and maintenance through the levy and kept the general fund for other school needs, said Jim Crawford, assistant superintendent of fiscal and operations.
“If we’re going to replace computers on desks, if we’re going to replace printers, it has to come out of the general fund, if we don’t approve a technology levy,” he said.
District officials also are considering whether it will be necessary to ask voters to approve tax increases for building improvements and upgrades, including the long-term fix for Capital High School’s recently repaired roof.
A committee considering individual building needs is working on a formal proposal, and expects to hold community meetings on the east and west sides of Olympia before the end of November, Crawford said.
