New high school to open with high-tech

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@thecitizennews.com

When Whitewater High School opens this fall, students will learn through the latest technological system.

The program, called Technology in The Classroom, received a big boost last week when the Fayette County Board of Education approved up to a $70,000 change order to configure the classrooms for this emerging technology. The money will come out of existing bond startup funds for the school.

The program uses a multimedia projector tied to a computer on the teacher’s desk as the primary teaching tools.

“You won’t need overhead projectors anymore,” said Whitewater Principal Greg Stillions.

The system features a tablet that students and teachers can use to project onto the large screen. One of the interesting features of the system is it allows everything to be “captured” by the computer.

So, if a student is sick, he can log into his class and get a slide by slide presentation of that day’s lesson.

The system requires rewiring the school for the system, which led to a lot of nervous looks from school board members with school starting in less than two months.

“I have some concerns about the electrical requirements,” said construction supervisor Klaus Darnell.

But Superintendent John DeCotis emphasized the school would open on time.

“We will do nothing to jeopardize the opening of school,” he said.

If necessary, the rewiring will be done in only the classrooms that will be occupied by students, and the rest left for a later date, he added.

Board member Janet Smola wondered if this wouldn’t cause the other high schools in the county to also want this system.

“Well, we can’t be backing up,” said Chairman Terri Smith.

School officials estimated it would take about $400,000 to wire the other schools for the program.

“Just be patient,” said Smola.