School board approves $27.7M technology plan

The Madison Board of Education Monday voted 6-1 to adopt a $27.7 million technology plan that will give MMSD students in grades 2-12 access to their own wireless computing device at school by the 2018-19 school year.

At the Jan. 27 meeting, students from Sandburg Elementary School demonstrated how they used their school iPads to complete writing assignments, math problems and other schoolwork, including character reflection. Teachers from Sandburg explained that devices helped them monitor students’ progress. The teachers reported while they initially worried the devices would discourage student interaction, they have instead seen more collaboration among students.

Community members who spoke in favor of the program included the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, the President of 100 Black Men of Madison and various parents, including a mother who shared how iPad use had benefited her dyslexic children’s learning.

While the Sandburg teachers at the meeting spoke in favor of iPad use, student board of education representative Luke Gangler said the majority of students he had heard from said the plan was not at a point where they could support it. 

Gangler, who is consulted but does not have a vote, along with member TJ Mertz opposed the plan’s adoption at this point. 

Gangler said, as it is now, there is “no vision for how technology is used at the middle and high school level.”

Some of the plan’s opponents said the experience at Sandburg was not an actual pilot of the program and that the district was moving ahead too quickly and without adequate testing.

One mother said she would like to support the program but said she could not do so in good conscience, given the speed at which the plan had moved forward and had been prioritized, in her opinion, ahead of the achievement gap.

Board member Dean Loumos voted in favor of the plan, but said he would watch it with a “critical eye,” noting that he does not want the plan to take resources away from mental health services and special education.

Board member Marj Passman supported the plan but added that it would need to be modified.

“I have complete faith in our superintendent to make sure this plan is implemented and implemented well,” Passman said. “Changes can be made and should be made.

Along with a failed motion to expand one-on-one device access to students in kindergarten and first grade, Passman added the district will need to look into other devices that are not listed in the plan, shop around for cheaper alternatives to iPads and hire more technical services support.