EWEN - To e-read or not to e-read was a hot topic at the Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening.
While discussing the student handbook at its regular meeting, member Holly Driesenga asked whether students would be able to use e-readers in the school instead of traditional books. The district prohibits the use of cell phones during school hours and an e-reader is another form of technology Driesenga said needed to be addressed.
"It's going to come up at some point," she told the board.
Driesenga said there may be times when students will want to use their e-readers in the classroom and the handbook doesn't specifically address e-readers. However, Superintendent Paul Healey said it would be hard to mandate the technology at this point.
"There's a lot of things that can be Kindles," Healey said. "My phone can be a Kindle."
Driesenga said she was asked if personal e-readers would be allowed in the school, knowing cell phones were prohibited. Some of the students, she said, load their e-readers with books that they read in different classes.
"Are they allowed to use them, whether they are a Kindle or a phone?" Driesenga asked.
Healey said the decision should be made by the teacher of each class whether they would allow the use of e-readers. However, he said it is difficult to monitor what the students are actually doing when they use cell phones as e-readers. Healey said it's also hard to judge what a student is reading because it's easy to switch between books quickly and discretely.
"Can they use it? I don't have a problem with that," Healey said.
E-readers are being used across the country in various school districts, member Kirk Schott said, however, the devices can also be loaded with adult magazine subscriptions, which are easily accessible on the devices.
In other news, the board:
accepted the resignation of board member Lisa Nordine.
raised hot lunch prices by 5 cents per a requirement by the state. Lunch for the high school will now be $2.55 and $2.30 for elementary school students. Lunch for adults will now be $3.55.
entered a closed session for more than an hour during the meeting concerning the reinstatement of a student.
received three bids for private custodial services. The board voted to accept a bid from PCMI out of Portland, Mich., who submitted an hourly wage bid, for $62,972.
agreed to hire a new science teacher, social studies teacher and special education teacher.
agreed to extend the lunch worker's hours to allow her to better prepare for breakfast.
