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Health & Fitness

Do Waltham students have the technology they need to succeed?

One of my top issues I would like to address in my role of School Committee member is technology.  The city of Waltham is far behind neighboring communities in this area.  However, just because we are behind does not mean we dive right in with our eyes closed and hope for the best. The 1:1 initiative that the Superintendent proposed and was accepted by the current School Committee is far from a long -term substantial plan (http://www.walthampublicschools.org/1to1Learning.pdf).  I agree that technology is an imperative tool needed for all our youth.  Currently Waltham kids are at a disadvantage from their peers on how they are learning and what they are learning.  Adequate planning and understanding the future of how technology can be beneficial in education is vital to our schools.

Technology takes time to roll out and be implemented. We need to look at the current infrastructure and make sure that buildings are wireless throughout and the system put in place can support three to five hundred computers, tablets, smart phones, or iPads accessing the internet at the same time. That capability is not currently available in all Waltham schools.

Putting an iPad in the hands of students without first making available education classes for all staff is essentially making it a toy for all involved.  Some learning can happen in the beginning stages however, with educated educators first, the tool can skyrocket.  Teachers become frustrated with technology instead of embracing it mostly because the programs or tools they are asked to implement in the classroom is handed to them without adequate training before hand. We need to educate our staff first to be effective. 

We need more than iPads for students.  Although they are great tools, students also need laptop and desktop computers across the district. Students need basic skills, which need to begin in elementary schools and carry through with increasing complexity to the upper grades.  Students need to have access to Google accounts and platforms like “It’s learning” or “Blackboard”. 


In 2015 the MCAS test will no longer be the state standardized testing tool; the PARCC test will take its place (http://www.parcconline.org/). The PARCC test will be proctored on a computer. The MCAS test for years has been given in classrooms with test booklets and pencils, and took approximately 2.5 -4 hours for a student to complete a subtest.  How will our children be able to complete such lengthy tasks on a computer?  Will the results be accurate to their knowledge of reading, writing, mathematics, or will it measure their technological literacy and attention?  Students need to work on computers before hand to prepare for the PARCC exams or Waltham will be faced with low scores once again.  

What some districts have begun doing is using specific programs for benchmarking students in the areas of reading and mathematics.  The uses of software programs help track a student progress term-to-term and year-to-year.  Programs also compare student scores nationally.  This is what Waltham needs to implement as another tool to help target student strengths and weaknesses. This information along with teacher evaluations and classroom benchmarks is what should be driving RTI (http://www.rtinetwork.org/learn/what/whatisrti) and Challenge (http://www.walthampublicschools.org/challenge.cfm) programing across the district.  These tests also provide a great snap shot of how a student will score on standardized state testing.

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This all comes at a price.  Technology is not cheap, and it’s forever changing. How can schools be able to keep up?  New positions will need to be created to maintain all the technology as a district but also at each individual school.  Laptops, desktops, iPads, and other devises will constantly need updating, repairing, and replacing. Additional expenses come from applications for the iPads, licensing of programs and management of student accounts. Does the budget currently reflect what is really needed to support our technological needs? I don’t believe so.  The 1:1 initiative although quickly puts technology into the hands of some Waltham students it may not be the best investment for Waltham to under take first.  Money for technology will need to be reallocated within in the school budget to keep up with new waves of educational demands and practices that technology will continue to bring and insist.

I have experience in this area.  I have been part of this process in Watertown for many years now.  I know what Waltham needs for technology, I know where education is going with technology, and I know I can bring this information to the table as a School Committee member.  I know I can advocate and oversee the process and make sure the schools are moving in the right direction. Please vote for me on November 5th; I care about our schools and educational futures.

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Vote Susan MONFETTE on November 5th. 

Want to talk: A meet and greet at Shoppers Café, Moody Street, is schedule on Tuesday October 22nd, from 7:00pm -9:00pm.


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