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||||| F O#35fr 113TH YEAR No. 47 • SERVING SODUS & WILLIAMSON • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28,1999 Does WCS need more technology? by Wilma Young The Williamson School Board has much to consider as they move toward voter support on a technology plan. After meeting over the holiday recess to care fully review survey results, it has been decided to offer an updated technology proposal along with ihe usual budget vote in May. (See letter from School Board President Bill Herbert on page 10.) Resi dents defeated a $1 4 million plan in No vember 1998. How will teaching and learning change if more computers, networking and the world-wide-web become another learning tool in the schools? A \Core Team\ of educators from the three buildings within the district will attempt to answer that question over the next few months. The 12 members of the Williamson team will participate with other teachers from Mar cus Whitman and Webster Christian Academy as they learn more about com puter programs and develop material, which can be used in classrooms. The 36- hour training program was made possible through a $49,000 State Grant. Staff representing the elementary grades, math, science, social studies, Eng lish-language arts, health & phys ed., art, and career & occupational development have agreed to develop the material, which must be submitted by June 30. \It's a huge task,\ said Curriculum Coordinator Maria Ehrsman, \but in return, they will be the first teachers to get the extra com puters in their classrooms.\ Meanwhile, Herbert, an outspoken op ponent of the failed November tech pro posal, will ask an ad hoc committee of computer experts from the community to advise the Board about what equipment should be installed or purchased. \I need to know a whole bunch more in the next couple of months,\ explained Herbert who is a Technical Specialist and Project Man ager at Xerox Corporation. \It's too im portant a decision to make hastily.\ Bliek concerned about Myers by Wilma Young Williamson Supervisor Mary Ann Bliek informed the Board of a petition drive being conducted throughout the northern Wayne County area urging ViaHealth of Wayne not to close Myers Hospital. \There are some retired teachers who will be at Breen's IGA on Wednesday, Thurs day and Friday afternoon this week look ing for signatures,\ she reported. \Bob Oaks scheduled a town meeting here Wednesday to explain the provisions of the STAR tax relief program. If people knew of that meeting, I hope they made him aware of the situation with Myers.\ According to Bliek, ViaHealth invited County Supervisors and some Department Heads to the formal presentation the Via Health Board has been sharing with stake holders since the fall of 1998. Ten Super visors, including Bliek and Sodus Town Supervisor Donna Chittenden, attended the general information meeting in Fairville on January 26. Also present were Sodus Mayor John Cook; County Admin- \HOW DO YOU ADD GRAPHICS TO YOUR DOCUMENT?\ Williamson Middle School 8th grader Josh Pellett listens intently to instructions from Technology Teacher Allison McCain as she walks students through the \clip art\ process during a PC Lab class Along with networking capabilities, the first proposal included the purchase of 100 computers plus peripherals. The Board has asked the district to revisit the plan and develop a \needs list\. Ehrsman hopes they will consider at least one com puter for each classroom in the district. Currently, computer labs are available in the middle and high schools. Some teach ers also have computers in their class room^ but not all Only the High School is linked to Lakenet, which is an Internet server through BOCES According to Ehrsman, only 60 computers throughout the district are network ready; some are PC's and some are Apples. She also be lieves the district faces logistical problems with the number of students whose only access to computers would be through the use of computer labs. \When you have 400 students in a building scheduling them in a computer lab. even once a week, becomes difficult,\ Ehrsman said The Board faces differing opinions over the effectivenrss of more computers. \It's just plain stupid to teach youngsters in the elementary school to use computers so that they will be able to use these things to gel a job when they graduate,\ Herbert insisted. \If that's why you teach them, it's a waste of time. The reason you teach elementary students to use comput ers is so they can use them to facilitate the learning of the basics.\ In the high school, he believes technology should be more readily available, and he states, \It is!\ School Board member Susan Dennie served on the district technology planning team. \I've seen technology's usefulness evidenced in almost every aspect of our everyday lives,\ she explained supporting the plan \If it's proven useful in business and industry, why is it so difficult to imagine its usefulness in the educational arena? We live in a small community that is beginning to realize a sizable decree ot growth,\ she continued. \Technology has the potential to expand the scope ol our students' world. Computers are merely tools that, when used properly. can at ford opportunities to enhance the regular class room curriculum,\ she concluded With so much at stake, why the rush to push for another vote in May? Herbert says that decision is driven by State aid, which must be applied for by June 30 \We fear the incentive from the state is much less,\ he explained, and would put off the decision for a referendum if ques tions remain unanswered. Candidates chosen for SP Village election REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN SODUS POINT caucused Monday night to offer a slate of candidates for the March 1999 Sodus Point Village elections. The GOP faithful chose Frank Wackerle (left) to run for the seat vacated by Trustee Mark Lukacs. Incumbents, Trustee Al Hendrikse, Jr., and Village Justice Eugene DeWispelaere were also nominated. Democrats chose Dons (Kallusch) Burger as their candidate for Village Trustee. No other nominations were offered. that they are not going to close Myers,\ istrator Dan Kane; Public Health Director Joe Mabon; Thelma Wideman from the Office of Emergency Preparedness; and Rick Bond, representing emergency ser vice providers in the county. Bliek indi cated nothing new was offered by Via Health spokesman Wayne VanderByle, but said she has heard from several resi dents with medical conditions who are worried about options for care without the scope of services currently offered at My ers. \The most important thing they said is mm said Chittenden in an interview Tuesday evening. \I wish there was something I could say, I'm not sure who or what to believe anymore.\ Chittenden also said there was discussion regarding use of the WATS bus system to transport senior citi zens for health care. She indicated that there have been .no formal discussions between her, the Town Board and Mayor Cook regarding any strategies regarding potential loss of services at Myers, which Please turn to page 9 Inside This Issue\ Calendar page 5 Deaths page 5 Great Outdoors page 7 Reader's Forum pages 10-12 Police Activity page 12 Sports pages 13-16 Business Directory page 18 Classifieds page 19
