NCSD Board set to approve technology plan for BMS

The Newton Community School Board will hold a called board meeting Wednesday to finalize the district’s technology plan for the new Berg Middle School.

The meeting will replace next Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, which would have occurred during the district’s spring break. NCSD Superintendent Bob Callaghan said the board plans to finalize the details of the technology plan and select a contractor to perform the work at the school.

By moving the date of the board meeting, the district will be able to cover a portion of the school’s technology package through E-Rate, a universal service fund that helps districts with technology updates.

The wireless networking package at Berg will cost the district approximately $290,000, with E-Rate funding $135,000 of that total. The remainder of the cost will be covered by the district’s SAVE fund, which is intended for infrastructure improvements throughout the district. As technology moves forward, the guidelines for applying for the E-Rate funding changes. By finalizing the district’s application for the funding now Callaghan said administrators will be able to utilize the funds before they are no longer available.

“There’s been some changes to the plan, they used to fund fiber networks two to three years ago, that no longer qualifies,” Callaghan said.

The new facility will feature state of the art technology throughout, Callahan said. VOIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol phones, will replace standard telephones in the new middle school, eliminating the need for traditional phone lines. Each phone costs approximately $225, Callaghan said the district will install one phone in every classroom.

The phone system represents only a small portion of the technology each classroom will have. Classrooms at the new Berg will be outfitted interactive technology, including a Solstice system that will allow students to interact with their teachers on the classroom whiteboards. The equipment will allow teachers to face their students during instruction time, something teachers have been asking for, Callaghan said.

“There will be total interactivity between students and teachers,” Callaghan said. “Now they’ll have a display they’ll be able to use, they’ll be able to look at their students.”

The building will also feature a state of the art security system, with 57 cameras inside that will monitor all of the hallways and common areas of the building. Callaghan said the one will mirror the system at the high school, which has 150 cameras installed throughout the building. Cameras won’t be installed in the classrooms. The cameras will be accessible to officers of the Newton Police Department, who will be able to view the them from their squad cars in the event of an emergency.

“We really feel like we’ve provided a safe environment for the students,” Callaghan said.

Developing the technology plan for Berg has been a lengthy undertaking, Callaghan said. Administrators have been researching technology options over the last year to develop the comprehensive plan, including meeting with teachers to listen their to requests.

“Teachers have been involved in the whole process,” Callaghan said. “This part of the project has taken months, if not years to develop.”

Once the board selects a bid for the school’s technology package, Callaghan said he expects the work to begin as soon as possible. Construction at Berg is moving ahead of schedule, and Callaghan said it’s possible the district may be able to move in before spring break of 2019. If work continues at the current pace students may move into the building after their winter break, starting 2019 off in a brand new building.

“Anytime we can accelerate and get into the new building earlier it would be advantageous to students,” Callaghan said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com