Joplin Board expected to OK half-million in technology for new high school

The days when high school messages came over a loudspeaker or were posted on bulletin boards are gone with the advent of 21st Century schools.

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education is expected to approve more than half a million dollars worth of technological additions for the new high school Tuesday night, including $48,678.67 for a digiital messaging system.

In a memo for the board, which was approved by Superintendent C. J. Huff and Executive Director of Secondary Education Jason Cravens, Director of Technology Klista Rader explains why the cost is necessary:

With the new construction at Joplin High School, additional digital signage and display is necessary for purchase. This visual equipment will be used near office areas for announcements and classes and hallways for student instruction.

The cost of LCD panel and mounting equipment is covered in the $48,678.67, according to the memo.

In another memo, also written by Mrs. Rader and approved by Huff and Cravens, the officials recommend paying $260,178 for 150 interactive projectors, cabling and mounting equipment, which would, according to Mrs. Rader, accomplish the following:

The Epson Brightlink Interactive Projectors are all in one systems used in place of a SMART Board and projector that provide more functionality, allow for multiple touch points, and will act with multiple types of software. These projectors are systems that will allow for more collaboration, visualization, and a more engaging classroom than separate systems. 

The third item, approved by the same trio, is "Alcatel-Lucent network infrastructure, including access point, mounting hardware, receivers, and backup power." The cost is $244,070.12.

The total cost of the three items is $552,926.79.