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Williamston Schools Update: Bond Progress, Tech Revamp, and Addressing Smart Devices in Classrooms
- 2024/12/19
- 再生時間： 20 分
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As we inch closer to the heart of the holiday season, there’s a lot to celebrate, especially considering the impactful changes on the horizon. Hosted by Dr. Christopher Lewis, the latest episode of the Hornet Hive podcast features insights from Dr. Adam Spina about the district's progress and upcoming initiatives. Here’s a comprehensive look into the updates that were discussed. Community-Supported Bond: A New Dawn for School Infrastructure Gratitude to the Community Dr. Spina started by expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support the community showed during the bond election in August. This bond, seen as a long-term investment in the schools, aims to set up students for future success. Initial Projects Underway From band instruments to classroom furniture, the bond encompasses a variety of projects thoughtfully planned to utilize taxpayer dollars effectively. One striking initiative is the replacement of outdated locker systems in middle and high schools, which are slated to be installed by summer 2025. The bond will also enhance athletic facilities, with significant investments in a new tennis court complex and an expedited renovation of the softball complex. Revamping Technology: The New District Website What to Expect In addition to these structural developments, Dr. Spina revealed that a long-overdue update to the district’s website will finally go live in early January 2025. While the current website, which had been Dr. Spina’s pet project for years, served the community well, the new design aims to be more user-friendly and conducive to timely communication. Transition and Training The tech team is hard at work making the final adjustments and conducting training sessions for staff to ensure a smooth transition. Though there may be a few bugs initially, the district is committed to addressing these efficiently to provide a seamless user experience. Smart Devices in Schools: Policies and Perspectives The Challenge Another focal point is the ongoing discussion about the impact of smart devices on adolescents’ learning and mental health. Reflecting on national and state-level discussions, Dr. Spina shared how the district implemented new policies to restrict device usage during school hours. Collecting Community Feedback In a move to engage the community in this crucial conversation, a series of surveys are being conducted to gather input from parents, students, and faculty. These insights will help shape future policies, ensuring they align with the community's perspectives and needs. A Season of Gratitude and Community: Holiday Messages Community Involvement The holiday season provides a unique backdrop to witness the strong ties between the schools and the broader Williamston community. Students and staff actively participate in community programs, whether through performances, volunteer work, or festive events like the light parade. Dr. Spina’s Wishes Dr. Spina extended his heartfelt thanks for the continued support and shared his best wishes for the holiday season and the upcoming year. He anticipates 2025 to be a year filled with exciting developments that will further enrich the community and its schools. Stay Connected This episode serves as a reminder of the impactful changes occurring within Williamston Community Schools. Dr. Lewis encourages everyone to stay engaged, offering an open channel for feedback and inquiries. As we step into 2025, the community’s involvement remains crucial in shaping the future of our schools. Stay tuned to the Hornet Hive podcast for more updates, and happy holidays from Williamston Community Schools! TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:19]: Welcome back to the Hornet Hive. I'm your host, doctor Christopher Lewis, one of the members of the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education. Really excited to have you back again this week. And as always, I love having you here to be able to hear about the amazing things that are happening within our schools. And every once in a while, we have the opportunity to bring Doctor. Adam Spina back on to talk about, in general, kind of what's going on in our schools and talking about progress on different goals and and progress on different things. So I'm always excited to be able to have him back here to talk about that. And today we do have doctor Spina with us, so I'm really excited to have him here. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:59]: Doctor Spina, thanks for being back again this week. Dr. Adam Spina [00:01:02]: Hi, Chris. Looking forward to providing some updates on things going on in the district as we approach the holiday season. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:08]: I know one of the big things that you've been working on after we had the election in August was to really start moving forward with the bond, thanks to the support of our community. And I thought it might be a good time to have you give a little bit of an update on where things are at at this point. Dr. Adam Spina [00:01:28...