Kiwanis meeting updates

Speakers for Kiwanis on 4/21/08 gave us updates on what's happening at Union County Schools. "Captivating ways to teach" are some of our goals, said Bill Driskell, Director of Technology at the Union County Schools. In a time when most students are comfortable with Ipods, cell phones and computers, the schools want to offer education in a way that's natural to students. He explained that a teacher could video tape the explanation of a problem, and save it to a computer

server. When the

student got home, and couldn't remember it, he could go to his computer and access that video for a review of the explanation. According to Mr. Driskell, Union County Schools have computer technology that surpasses many of the large schools in Atlanta. Future updates will include addition of greater facility security. He explained that a dollar of your phone bill goes to the Federal government, and schools can apply for a portion of that to fund technology upgrades. This is important since no monies come from the State to fund it. The average age of computers at the schools now is 7 yrs. old, and that's pretty old in technology years.

Keith Ledford, Director of Facilities explained the value of the SPLOST in providing funds for a myriad of projects. Actually that was instrumental in paying for the new Middle and High Schools. The extension, just voted in, will provide 27 million dollars, and will help pay for the following: A fine arts center behind the high school, which will seat 975 people, an athletic complex, which will include PE rooms. He reminded us that Union County has not had a baseball field for several years. Woody Gap will get a new Gym in combination with a community room. Woody Gap's present gym isn't even regulation size. There will also be additions to all the schools from primary to high school.

The Kiwanis Club meets at the Cobbs Mill restaurant in Blairsville at 12:00 Noon on each Monday. Come join in the fun with us. For more information, contact President Charlie Krick at (706)781-6793.