(Garden City, KS) (westernkansasnews.com)

The USD-457 School Board continues to meet in spite of summer break.  School resumes on August 22^nd.  Modifying and refining the school district’s long term and immediate goals is on the board’s agenda Monday.  The four core goals and approximate two dozen sub-goals being worked on by the board can lead to lengthy discussion.  Goal refinement is an ongoing process and tackled by each board in advance of each school year.  One of the sub-goals that requires ongoing consideration is evaluation of the school district’s technology and disposal of out of date equipment.  Ideally, computers and other technology related items are rotated every 6-years. 

One of the new technologies being harnessed at garden City High School is the Apple iPad.  The impressive gadget from Apple has a number of applications and capabilities and is noted for its fast operation.  School District officials recently purchased about 2-thousand iPads for students at the new High School.  The iPads will be used as a valuable tool for increasing academic performance and improving student achievement. 

USD-457 Finance Director Kathleen Whitley says the school district was able to purchase the iPads with protective covers for about $400 apiece—approximately $100 apiece less than the retail cost.