The John Glenn School Board approved the purchase of textbooks for Urey Middle School students to be used in addition to the use of Chromebooks in the One-to-One initiative.
Urey Middle School Principal Mark Maudlin said textbooks have not been purchased in the past six years, but he said having the textbook and a digital textbook assists students in achieving their learning goals. Science will be the only subject that will be a digital learning tool only.
The board approved the purchase of $96,692.43.
How this will affect textbook rental fees will be decided by the board’s July meeting. The board approved the purchase of Chromebooks in May which were purchased at a much cheaper price than the last computer lease. Corporation Business Manger Tom Bendy said the issue is how to afford the funding of the One-to-One initiative in the elementary school along with the use of textbooks. The money that had been coming into the school from the Town of Walkerton’s TIF District for that purpose is going to other obligations. Bendy is working to find a solution to present to the board when textbook rental fees are discussed. He does not anticipate a significant increase.
