Fayette

County schools' five-year technology plan will be

the topic for discussion at tonight's community

round table meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at the

LaFayette Education Center.

Ed

Steil, technology coordinator for the school

system, will present an overview of the plan

preceding group discussions on several of its key

components.

Projected

expenditures for technology in fiscal year 2001

total $2.2 million. About half of that will be

local funding to update PC's and continue an

ongoing software project in eight elementary

schools and add five more to the project, which

provides an on line program to increase students'

scores, based on the plan's projections.

The

technology plan was developed in 1988 by a

committee chaired by Dr. John DeCotis. Members

included Eddie Pollard, Marti Courington, Ed

Steil, Dr. Sharon Boyer and Janice Hetzler.

portion of the plan's philosophy states:

"The use of technology in Fayette County is

intended to enhance the roles of teachers and

learners by enabling the teacher to serve as a

facilitator; by providing a myriad of

nontraditional techniques for lesson development

and delivery; by engaging students in active,

application-oriented lessons, by providing

lessons easily adaptable for and by individual

learners; and by putting current, up-to-date

equipment and information at the fingertips of

all users."

The

intent of the plan's use of instructional

technology is multifaceted and will be reviewed

and discussed. According to its authors, the

document is to be used as a blueprint for the

future and revisions and updates will be made on

a regular basis.

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