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Golden Leaf Grant would expand One-to-One program
[June 01, 2012]

Golden Leaf Grant would expand One-to-One program


May 30, 2012 (The McDowell News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A new Golden Leaf grant proposal might help McDowell County Schools expand the current One-to-One program to all high school students.

During May's board of education meeting, Superintendent Ira Trollinger presented the board with an update on the grant proposal that he hopes will bring the One-to-One program to all upper-grade students.

"We are trying to work with Google, with the Golden Leaf Foundation and with county commissioners to form a partnership and get the One-to-One started for all nine- through 12th-graders," stated Trollinger. "We've been working out the protocols using the pilot program at the Early College program." Currently, students at Early College receive a laptop when they enter into the program in ninth grade. All work is done on their computers and students are able to take their laptops home to complete school tasks.



Early College students have helped administrators and teachers take notes of the pros and cons of the program.

Students using the machines have helped educators see how the computers hold up, how kids adapt to the new teaching tool and how the expansion of the program could positively affect all high school students.


Over the last eight years, the McDowell County School System has been preparing for the transition to One-to-One.

Every school in the county has been wired using funds from various grants to prepare each school's Internet system for the shock of Internet users that comes with the switch.

During his presentation, Trollinger stated that, with the support of county commissioners, he thinks the school system will be awarded the $200,000 they are requesting for the program.

"I'm hoping to have a letter of support from the commissioners saying that they will be a partner and then we can submit our grant to Golden Leaf," stated Trollinger. "The proposal will be a lot stronger if we show that partnership." To finish his presentation, Trollinger stated that One-to-One helps build several skills that companies currently look for when employing people.

"Business leaders have told us they need team problem solvers that can work together and tackle things in small groups," Trollinger said. "With One-to-One, you do not have teachers standing in front of the room every minute. You have kids working on projects, going to the Internet and developing all kinds of ideas, and working to solve problems and working as teams." ___ (c)2012 The McDowell News (Marion, N.C.) Visit The McDowell News (Marion, N.C.) at www.mcdowellnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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