By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@thecitizennews.com

Fayette County schools' five-year technology plan will be the topic for discussion at tonight's community round table meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at the LaFayette Education Center.

Ed Steil, technology coordinator for the school system, will present an overview of the plan preceding group discussions on several of its key components.

Projected expenditures for technology in fiscal year 2001 total $2.2 million. About half of that will be local funding to update PC's and continue an ongoing software project in eight elementary schools and add five more to the project, which provides an on line program to increase students' scores, based on the plan's projections.

The technology plan was developed in 1988 by a committee chaired by Dr. John DeCotis. Members included Eddie Pollard, Marti Courington, Ed Steil, Dr. Sharon Boyer and Janice Hetzler.

A portion of the plan's philosophy states: “The use of technology in Fayette County is intended to enhance the roles of teachers and learners by enabling the teacher to serve as a facilitator; by providing a myriad of nontraditional techniques for lesson development and delivery; by engaging students in active, application-oriented lessons, by providing lessons easily adaptable for and by individual learners; and by putting current, up-to-date equipment and information at the fingertips of all users.”

The intent of the plan's use of instructional technology is multifaceted and will be reviewed and discussed. According to its authors, the document is to be used as a blueprint for the future and revisions and updates will be made on a regular basis.