In keeping with the technology initiative that calls for a 1:1 laptop to students ratio, Surry County Schools is preparing for the next phase.

Starting last fall, seventh grade students in the school system were issued a laptop which was theirs during the school year to use in the classroom as well as at home. This year, those seventh graders, who are now eighth graders, will continue to use the laptops while the new set of seventh graders will also receive the computers.

In order to prepare for next year, when the eighth graders will enter high school, the school system issued laptops to all high school teachers Aug. 5 at the school system’s technology conference. The teachers will spend this year learning how to use the computers effectively and integrate technology into their lesson plans.

“As part of the long-range plan, one year prior to the students receiving the laptops the teachers would receive them. This gives them time to enhance lesson plans and make them conducive to a 21st Century environment,” said Jill Reinhardt, director of technology and career and technical education for Surry County Schools.

In addition to the teachers having laptops, each of the county’s four high schools will receive laptop carts which teachers can check-out for their classes. There will be six carts with 30 laptops each at East Surry, North Surry and Surry Central high schools. Surry Early College High School of Design will have two laptops. Because the high schools have a few laptop carts already in place, these additional carts will allow each department to have its own cart.

The carts and the laptops to go on them were paid for with two grants. The Golden LEAF Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission each awarded the school system $200,000 for the project. The teachers’ laptops were paid for through a Rural Low-Income Schools grant.

“We’re pretty excited about that money. It really is a big deal to move our high schools forward in that plan,” said Reinhardt.

“The Golden LEAF Foundation strongly supports school technology initiatives, like the one for Surry County Schools, to help stimulate student interest and engagement in school, reduce the dropout rate and make learning more relevant to the emerging jobs of the 21st century,” said Dan Gerlach, president of Golden LEAF, in a press release announcing the grant. “The goal is to provide students with the skills needed to meet the demands of a global economy.”

“The Appalachian Regional Commission is excited about the possibilities that this project will present for students in Surry County,” said Commission Chief of Local and Regional Affairs Olivia Collier in a press release announcing the grant. “We are focused on finding innovative uses of technology that can enrich instruction and increase the number of high school graduates that go on to college. We are also thrilled to be partnering with the Golden LEAF Foundation on this project.”

In order for the laptop carts to work properly in the high schools, the school system has to install wireless capabilities on the campuses. In order to install the proper infrastructure, the school system has applied for E-Rate funding. E-Rate funding provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in obtaining affordable telecommunications and Internet access. The money for the program comes from a fee attached to all telephone bills across the country.

Plans are in place for temporary wireless to be up and running in the three traditional high schools by Thanksgiving. Surry Early College already has access to wireless through Surry Community College.

“Pending E-Rate approval, we hope to begin work to upgrade the infrastructure and have it running by the next school year,” said Reinhardt.

The next phase in the 1:1 laptop initiative plan developed by the school system calls for students in the high school to be issued laptops. However, the school system is unsure how they will decide who gets laptops at the high schools. It is more difficult to issue them one grade at a time because many of the classes contain students from different grades.

“Pending on funding, we will begin making decisions on what 1:1 will look like in the high schools,” said Reinhardt of what is next.

“Surry County Schools is appreciative of the money awarded to us from both the Golden LEAF Foundation and the Appalachia Regional Commission. These grants provide us the opportunity to continue the goals set forth by the Board of Education,” said Dr. Ashley Hinson, superintendent. “We are extremely excited to move into the next phase of the Surry County School System 1:1 laptop initiative. Our high school teachers and students are ready to move forward as well. We feel fortunate that these two foundations have assisted us in making our vision a reality.”

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.