RSSS receives grant from Golden LEAF Foundation

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Rowan-Salisbury School System has received a $199,605 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation for the “Learning on the Go ó Anytime óAnywhere” technology project at North Rowan High School.
With receipt of this funding, the school system will be in a position to rapidly expand the iPod touch program at North Rowan by providing an iPod touch to every 11th grader and equipping every 11th-grade classroom with a MacBook Cart and wireless Internet access.
Phil Hardin, executive director of technology for the school system and author of the grant, was notified of the exciting news in a letter from Dan Gerlach, president of the Golden LEAF Foundation. Gerlach said in the letter, “We trust that this support will further your work to the benefit of North Carolinians.”
After receiving the letter, Hardin and Tara Trexler, the school system’s chief financial officer, participated in a teleconference workshop to learn about the policies governing the grant as outlined by the Golden LEAF Foundation.
Rowan-Salisbury School System Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom said, “At a time when our school system is experiencing a very tough budget year and funds for technology were drastically cut by our state, we have managed to secure funding to continue to move our system forward by providing our students with the technology that they must have to compete in the job market.
“I commend Mr. Hardin for his outstanding work in seeking this funding and for leading the charge in assuring that our staff are trained in the use of technology tools. As a school system, we owe our students the opportunity to learn from and about technology so they will be prepared for their future.”
Hardin explained in the grant application that the school system realizes that students live in an on-demand, technology-centric world and the way they learn and their expectations of school are different from the students of previous years.
“Most students report that dropping out of high school is a gradual process of disengagement that results in the lack of connection to school,” he said. “We believe that student disengagement can be addressed in this project by making teaching and learning relative through the incorporation of 21st Century tools, skills and activities.”
The Rowan-Salisbury School System partnered with Apple Inc. in providing 21st Century tools and skills to students at North Rowan High. The school was chosen for the project because of a number of growing challenges that include improving student academic achievement, increasing student enrollment and increasing the graduation rate.
At North ó a school with a free and reduced lunch percentage of 63 ó school officials said changes are being made to engage students in learning so they can enter the work force or continue their education at an institute of higher learning equipped with the necessary skills to be successful in their endeavors.
The iPod touch digital learning environment was introduced to North’s ninth graders in the spring of 2009 with plans to provide each new freshman class with the iPod touch until the entire school was involved with the project.
The Golden LEAF Foundation grant, along with two additional funding sources received from the “Stimulus” grant and the “Enhancing Education Technology Teaching” grant, will allow all students at North Rowan High to be using an iPod touch this current school year.
Grissom said she is very proud of the school administrators, excited for the staff and students at North High and grateful for the support and funds received to make the project a reality. “A project that began less than a year ago, with an expectancy of taking several years to fully implement, will now realize completion in just one year,” she said.
Since implementing the iPod touch project at North Rowan High last year, staff have reported that student engagement and student attendance has increased and student discipline has decreased.
Parental involvement is a key component to the success of the iPod touch project at North. Parents are encouraged to attend a meeting and to sign a contract assuring their support in assisting their children’s understanding in the use of the iPods in teaching the state curriculum.
With the iPod touch being a new and unique program and one of very few across the nation, Apple Inc. recently sponsored an Open House and invited superintendents, technology administrators, principals and teachers from across the state to observe several schools in the Rowan-Salisbury School System, including North Rowan High, that provide digital learning environments for students.
Approximately 65 attended, including N.C. State School Board Chair Dr. Bill Harrison, and many expressed amazement at the use of technology in engaging students in learning along with the creativity of staff and students. “Teachers are embracing the new tools very quickly and principals are seeking funding from fundraisers and matching fund projects to writing numerous grants” Grissom said.
The mission of the Rowan-Salisbury School System is to develop globally competitive schools that will inspire, challenge and empower students to meet high academic standards. School Board Chairman Dr. Jim Emerson said, “When you see the direction of the school board coming to fruition, you know we are on track and doing what we need to be doing. We are doing not only what needs to be done, but we are leaders in how to move forward making the necessary changes to keep our students engaged and on track to graduate from high school.
“I could not be more pleased and happy for the North Rowan High School students and staff and I applaud Dr. Grissom and her staff. This is great news.”
The funds received from the Golden LEAF Foundation will enhance student learning at North Rowan High School by allowing the classrooms to reflect the learning environment that today’s students need, want and expect in order to stay in school, acquire skills and graduate from high school as they move on to a successful future.