Promise them an iPod and they will come?

By Sarah Nagem

snagem@salisburypost.com

School leaders have a new idea about how to attract students to North Rowan High School: Promise them a high-tech gadget.

The Rowan-Salisbury School System has applied for state money to buy every freshman at North an iPod Touch.

The hand-held device, which is made by Apple, gives users access to the Internet.

"We've talked a lot about North Rowan High School and how we'd like to do something at North to boost enrollment," Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom said during the Board of Education meeting Monday.

Grissom said school leaders met with teachers at North's new ninth-grade academy, which aims to help students adjust to high school.

"The ninth-grade academy teachers were very enthusiastic about it," she said.

School leaders will know early next month if the state awarded the grant, said Phil Hardin, executive director of technology for the Rowan-Salisbury system.

If the funding comes through, Hardin said, only freshmen at North will initially each get an iPod Touch. They will get to use them in school and take them home.

But if the school system can afford it, he said, those freshmen will keep the gadgets as they move through high school until all students at North have them.

Grissom said Apple suggested that school leaders ask the state for iPod Touch devices instead of computers or other technology.

"It will be the first high school in North Carolina involved in this project," Grissom said.

A middle school in the Chapel Hill area is considering a similar plan, she said.

"Apple is excited to see how this could help an at-risk school," Grissom said of North.

Jessica Honeycutt, a North Rowan senior who attended the school board meeting Monday evening, said she thought offering technology is a good plan to help the school.

"I think it is a good change," Honeycutt said. "It will definitely draw attention."

Honeycutt and fellow North student Josh Price have attended many school board meetings in the last several months, when North has been a hot topic for board members.

They want to support their school, which has seen a shrinking enrollment, they said.

Honeycutt said allowing students to have iPod Touch devices could create distractions at school. Some rules would need to be in place, she said.

Price seemed optimistic. "It will draw people," he said.