A referendum advisory committee composed of school board members, administrators, teachers, and community members are addressing the need for technological and maintenance upgrades throughout the district. We encourage them to focus on addressing maintenance and networking issues, with appliances and equipment coming second. While classroom technology should be brought up to date, teachers must be educated on how to effectively use the technology made available to them. In addition, if the decision is made to update the technology in the district, do not hold back. Invest in high quality upgrades and machines that will last and benefit Shorewood in the future; do not take any shortcuts. If we wish to further the role of technology in a Shorewood education, as many schools have done in their respective districts, do it right. These upgrades should be brought about in the coming referendum. Through it all however, we must never lose sight of the true purpose of education and making upgrades, learning.

The district must improve maintenance due to the condition and usage of its facilities. Moldy rugs, cracked ceilings, asbestos, ineffectual bathroom locks, faulty drinking fountains, and an overall lack of updated facilities are issues throughout the entire district. Many of these problems lead to health risks and an unsafe learning environment. In addition to health concerns, Shorewood’s limited space is being used inefficiently and should be reorganized to better make use of the facilities we have been given. For example, a walk through the physical education building will yield a view of cramped, outdated locker rooms, vast storage areas filled with unused equipment, and rooms and offices that almost never get used. Undoubtedly, this space could be used in a productive manner, whether for storing new P.E. equipment or providing space for classroom activities. Inducing such changes would lead to a cleaner, stronger school image, which ideally would attract potential students to our school, thus increasing enrollment.

Secondary to aiding maintenance, enhanced technology could also increase enrollment, and it must begin with changing and upgrading the network. Currently, the network does not allow for individual logins for each machine; rather everyone must log in as a student or under some other user, such as Copperdome. Also, not all computers connect to the internet, some do not login under certain users, and there is often a software disconnect between two computers. A new system should be installed, wherein all computers feed from one, organized network. Every student should have a username and password, given to them in elementary or intermediate school, to which they may log in at any computer. Each student would be allotted a certain amount of personal storage space, eliminating the current problem where students are required to save their documents to the public desktop which can be stolen or deleted. Furthermore, a student could login under an organization, such as Copperdome, anywhere and have their applicable software available, while the district would always be able to monitor who is on what computer at what time.

Already used by numerous teachers, LCD projectors should become a staple in every Shorewood classroom. Rather than dealing with overhead projectors and outdated technology, teachers should have modern projectors available to present notes in a more efficient and easy-to-read manner. Not only should teachers have such systems available, they should be equipped with the knowledge to use them with no difficulty. In no way do we deny the value of traditional education, nor do we feel any teacher should be required to change their curriculum to incorporate modern technology. We feel modern technology should be an option; an option teachers know how to use. Technology is the future and Shorewood must be ready to embrace it.

Another element of technology in need of an upgrade is computer technology, as time is taking its toll on computers throughout the district. Our computers are slow and outdated, but fall on the bottom of the priority list for technological upgrades. Faster, more modern computers would allow students to work more efficiently and use modern software. At some point, our computers need to be replaced by stronger, new machines.

The issue that these reforms call to mind is money. No doubt, this would be a multi-million dollar project and there might be a tax increase; however, it is to bring Shorewood schools, the pride of Shorewood, up to date and attract new students and families to our district. More importantly, do not be stingy spenders. Spend the money to purchase high-quality, dependable upgrades that will last. If we are interested in making maintenance and technological changes, spend the needed money, because if you do it right, you will end up saving money and addressing the issues currently found in Shorewood schools.

Our main goal as a district is to spread knowledge. Technology is not a replacement for teaching, nor should it detract from the learning experience in any way. It is merely another means to present information, another route for students to learn that should be available in every classroom.