Storm Lake Pilot Tribune: Community News: Preparing students for the world (09/01/10)

Sioux Central students are in for an exciting year at school with the one-to-one MacBook laptop program. Devin Wilkin and Aaron Loubenthal work on a project together with some guidance from Denise Terrell. / Photo by Lorri Glawe

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It's going to be a great year at Sioux Central Schools this year!

Every sixth grade through 12th grade student has received a MacBook laptop computer as part of Apple's one-to-one laptop initiative.

Sioux Central is one of about 40 schools in the state taking part in the program and joins many states throughout the nation.

"We want to prepare our students the best we can for real life and the real world," said HS Principal Jeff Scharn.

The computers are being leased for four years and after that time the district will renegotiate with Apple.

The cost for the 460 computers is $160,000 per year, with $35,000 of that cost coming from sharing partner Albert City-Truesdale District.

That may seem like a large price tag, but as Superintendent Dan Frazier said, the cost is so beneficial to the students plus it is being paid from the one-cent SILO funds that district receives each year. The sales tax funds cannot be used toward salaries and instruction, only for building and equipment including computers. It's a small price to pay for the great opportunity the students are being given.

Though the laptops did not go to the younger grades, Scharn pointed out that the mobile computer labs that were being used last year, are now being used by the lower grades, fulfilling the technology goal that the board has set for the district.

"Technology is in their lives and it's not going away."

Read more of this story in the August 31 Pilot Tribune.