Anita Weston, Reporter
Rich Civic Times
RANDOLPH, Utah.
February 26, 2014. Superintendent
Dale Lamborn reported that a company, Waterford Institute, had obtained federal
funds for educational research. They
have been funding their programs in high density areas, but would like to work
in some rural areas. They would like to
introduce technology to preschool age children.
The program is called the Upstart Program.
Their goal would be to get 70 percent of preschool children
working on electronic devices. They have
the funds to hire a liaison to coordinate among Waterford Company, the
preschool age students, parents, and the school district in which they
live. They would provide the device and
the needed internet connection. They
would then follow these children for the next three to five years gathering
data about the progress these students make in school up to the third grade.
The program is not meant to replace preschool. It is to supplement any of the already
existing programs that are available to preschool children. They need commitments from parents to make
sure that these students spend at least 15 minutes each week on the device that
they are given. It is a year around
program—not just during the school year.
The District doesn’t have responsibility for the program,
but feel it would be a good thing to allow these younger individuals an
opportunity to become more familiar with technology. It was recommended that the school district
go along with this program. A motion was
made and passed to allow this program to move forward.
The position for the liaison needs to be filled within the
next week or two so that they can get the needed training and preparation to
get the program underway. The Board
encouraged Lamborn to advertise the position and move forward with this
program.
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