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A Smart School
Rondout Valley OKs An Internet Upgrade

KYSERIKE – The Rondout Valley Board of Education approved a $1.4 million spending plan to purchase internet devices and infrastructure at its meeting at district offices on Tuesday, September 27. The investment allows students to develop the skills they need to compete in all sectors of the job market, said Superintendent Rosario Agostaro.

Funds will come from the state's Smart School Bond Act, a $2 billion initiative to bring educational technology into the classroom. The state voted in the act two years ago as a referendum item at the same time that casino gambling was okayed throughout the state.

Items on the spending plan include internet hardware for the creation of hotspots for classrooms, external infrastructure such as poles and terminals, professional services, and a generator for the school district office. These, said RVSD director of technology Angelo Urrico, need to be in place before the district can introduce more devices to students.

"The wifi network is on the verge of not supporting the technology we have now," said Urrico.

Superintendent Agostaro also stressed the importance of bolstering the district's network. In a recent meeting with the New York State Education council, the commissioner noted the state's move towards a computer-based assessment of students.

"We need a more robust wifi network before we do that," said Agostaro. "The infrastructure is critical."

Two local public libraries will also receive $10,000 to improve their internet connectivity through the bond act.

James Ayers, board member and former Rondout Valley teacher, said he is excited to see the plan approved.

"It has taken a while to get to where we are now," Ayers said.

The spending plan was approved in two stages. On August 9 the board of education approved the Preliminary Smart Schools Investment Plan, which was then attached to the district's website for thirty days. This allowed parents of students to review and add comments to it. After a month passed, a public hearing took place for stakeholders to respond.

Currently the plan has received secondary approval and will be submitted to the State Education Department. It is the school district's responsibility to make the necessary purchases — classroom devices and security — and then file receipts. The department will then reimburse the district for the costs of the purchases.

"I appreciate the work that has been done to use these funds instead of local funds," said board president Rebecca Versace.

There is only one catch: as of Sept. 27 there is no mechanism in place for the district to become reimbursed. A few board members said they were unable to locate where on the department's website receipts are submitted.

"We know other school districts have already started buying," said Agostaro. "But without a mechanism, they can't get their money back."



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