MONROE - Teachers in the Monroe School District will have more technological tools available to teach special needs students next year.
The Monroe School Board voted unanimously Monday night to use $51,161.06 in grant money from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the American Recovery Reinvestment Act to purchase 51 Apple iPads with covers, six MacBook Pro 17-inch laptops, six carrying bags, seven wireless Internet hubs for access to MacBooks and iPads in special education classrooms and 10 flip cameras.
Joe Monroe, director of pupil services in the Monroe School District, said the technology will have a dramatic affect on educating students with autism, those who struggle to communicate and grasp a pencil.
"To be able to have this technology to educate kids is just priceless," Monroe said. "This will afford kids the opportunity to communicate in the curriculum who otherwise wouldn't have had that opportunity."
The funds have to be used by Sept. 30.
The Apple iPads are expected to be used at each elementary school in the district, Monroe Middle School and Monroe High School.
Monroe said the technology would be used for special education students with a wide range of abilities and needs.
For students who struggle holding a pencil to write, Monroe said the iPads and software programs will give them a chance to trace letters to learn how to write.
Reading software and writing programs will also be used with students.
The laptops for management of iTunes accounts will be used to develop student videos and projects with special needs students.
In the past, Monroe said special education software computer programs cost thousands of dollars a year and required teachers taking a group of students to the computer lab.
Monroe said the new technology, including the iPads, will be more accessible for special education teachers and students to use.
"It will have an immense affect," he said. "This will provide a creative learning opportunity for kids."
The Monroe School Board voted unanimously Monday night to use $51,161.06 in grant money from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the American Recovery Reinvestment Act to purchase 51 Apple iPads with covers, six MacBook Pro 17-inch laptops, six carrying bags, seven wireless Internet hubs for access to MacBooks and iPads in special education classrooms and 10 flip cameras.
Joe Monroe, director of pupil services in the Monroe School District, said the technology will have a dramatic affect on educating students with autism, those who struggle to communicate and grasp a pencil.
"To be able to have this technology to educate kids is just priceless," Monroe said. "This will afford kids the opportunity to communicate in the curriculum who otherwise wouldn't have had that opportunity."
The funds have to be used by Sept. 30.
The Apple iPads are expected to be used at each elementary school in the district, Monroe Middle School and Monroe High School.
Monroe said the technology would be used for special education students with a wide range of abilities and needs.
For students who struggle holding a pencil to write, Monroe said the iPads and software programs will give them a chance to trace letters to learn how to write.
Reading software and writing programs will also be used with students.
The laptops for management of iTunes accounts will be used to develop student videos and projects with special needs students.
In the past, Monroe said special education software computer programs cost thousands of dollars a year and required teachers taking a group of students to the computer lab.
Monroe said the new technology, including the iPads, will be more accessible for special education teachers and students to use.
"It will have an immense affect," he said. "This will provide a creative learning opportunity for kids."