SHELTON — Educators and city officials hope a new multimillion-dollar technology plan will go a long way in bringing city schools in line with state averages for the number of students per computer.
The Technology Committee, consisting of city officials, Board of Education members and other residents, has been meeting weekly to formulate how to get more computers in city classrooms. This week, it is expected to OK a measure to ask voters to approve the $2.5 million, three-year plan.
"I think that in the long run, this will be a good thing," said school board and Technology Committee member Arlene Liscinsky. "This way, we will get a commitment from the city for technology and we will know where we are headed."
State Department of Education figures show an average of 5.3 elementary students, 4.4 intermediate students and 4.1 high school students per computer statewide. In Shelton, there are 9.2 elementary students, 8.4 intermediate students and 9.2 high school students per computer.
The $2.5 million would be used over the next three years to add computers and comply with state and federal mandates to be implemented in the coming years.
"The city understands and will finance the program," said Board of Aldermen President John Anglace, who also sits on the Technology Committee. Initially, the committee was considering a $3.4 million program for the schools that would be spread out over five years, Anglace said. Further investigation, however, determined that spending $2.5 million over the next three years would put city schools in a good position concerning classroom computers.
"The important thing is that we have a commitment and an agreement in principle with the people representing the Board of Education and the city and the community members at large," Anglace said. "We are all in agreement over this plan."
The plan still needs approvals from both the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Education, as well as voters, who will be asked to weigh in on the issue in November.
Once those approvals are in place, an ad hoc committee will be formed to implement the plan, Anglace said.
It is likely that those now on the Technology Committee will comprise that committee, he said.
And after the school's plan is in place, the Technology Committee will turn its attention to the Police Department and Shelton Public Library's computer needs, Anglace said.
"I am really pleased with the progress and the extent of the cooperation and understanding from all the people involved [with the Technology Committee]," Anglace said. "It has been a breath of fresh air to see how this group has put this together."
