More SmartBoards Going Into Clarkstown Classrooms

Traditional elementary school classrooms in the Clarkstown School District will all have one more thing in common soon – a SmartBoard. The school board approved spending $64,000 to purchase and install 16 SmartBoards in eight schools. With the latest expenditure, the new technology will be in place in all kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms. But one parent wished the information about the board’s initiative had been shared earlier. 

Congers PTA Treasurer David Gottlieb acknowledged appreciation for the board's action but said he wished its plans have been announced earlier. He said the Congers PTA raised $17,000 for six SmartBoards and arranged for their installation in regular classrooms. He said if the PTA had known the district would be providing SmartBoards for regular classrooms, the PTA would have placed the ones they purchased in special education classrooms or resource rooms.

He said the PTA and parents collected the money in December and shifted funds around even cancelling the Third Grade Cultural Arts Program in order to buy the Smart Boards.

“The Congers Elementary PTA donated $17,000 and we’re getting one,” he pointed out at Thursday’s school board meeting.

Congers, West Nyack, Lakewood and Strawtown elementary schools will each receive one new board before the end of June. Little Tor and Link elementary schools will get two each and Laurel Plains and Bardonia will receive four.

 “The most any school is getting is four,” said School Board President Joe Malgieri. “This will fill up all our K through five classes.”

The exception is Laurel Plains, which still needs four more in addition to the four it is receiving this year. The funds for the four additional SmartBoards will be included in the 2013 to 2014 school budget.

Assistant Superintendent John LaNave told the board that purchase and installation typically costs $4,000 per unit but some may require additional electrical work.