by Alissa Skelton
The Crete News

Crete students will soon be dissecting frogs on classroom laptop computers thanks to a competitive federal technology grant.

Crete Public Schools ranked the highest and most deserving of the Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant by out-of-state evaluators. The Nebraska Department of Education awarded Crete  $283,315 to integrate educational technology into four English and science classrooms.  

Administrators ordered 60 Macs and 68 PCs for students to use. Grades, 3, 8, 9 and 10 were selected to use technology in the classroom. Also, the 6th grade at St. James

Elementary will receive an estimated 8 PC computers. All teachers will receive technology training.

The four Crete Pubic classrooms will be equipped with:
• Laptops
• Student response devices
• Wireless internet access
• An interactive whiteboard system with LCD projectors
• A digital camera
• A networked printer and science simulation software
• Technology training for teachers

About 20 other schools received a technology grant, but Jim Lukesh, coordinator of technology grants, said Crete’s application for the grant was outstanding.

“Administrators had a clear vision of what they wanted to do and how to positively impact student achievement,” Lukesh said.

Lukesh was not the only one to think Crete is deserving of the grant. Representatives from Doane College, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Educational Service Unit 6 all wrote letters of recommendation for Crete Public Schools.

Lynne Herr wrote ESU 6’s letter of recommendation. Herr, a technology professional development consultant, has worked with Crete Public Schools for a while now. She said she thinks Crete received the grant because administrators worked on a plan to integrate technology for about two years.

“I support the grant because it is part of a master plan for the Crete Schools, rather than a slapdash project thrown together at the last minute in attempt to grab available funding,” Herr said.

Herr is going to train teachers on how to properly use the technology and teach responsible digital citizenship for to students.  

Digital citizenship is an important part of the education. Kyle McGowan, superintendent, said he wants to make sure students are safe on the Internet.

“Children are growing up with technology and it’s an important part of education, McGowan said. “We are excited about getting these learning tools in kids’ hands.”