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District debuts events app [Erie Times-News, Pa.](Erie Times-News (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 24--EDINBORO -- Need to know when the General McLane football game kicks off? There's an app for that. The General McLane School District has created a custom app, available for free through Apple's App Store, for the iPhone and iPad. The app allows users to quickly see a basic calendar-type listing of events in the district. GM Events is about convenience -- and community connection, said Eran Hakanen, systems analyst for the district and the app's developer. After the district recently eliminated paper calendars in favor of posting events to its website, www.generalmclane.net, "the second thought was, 'What can we give the community that would make life even easier for them?'" Hakanen said. A district survey showed that some students don't have Internet access at home. But 58 percent of American adults have smart phones, said Jeremy Dylewski, the district's technology supervisor, citing a Pew Internet Research study. The study said 63 percent of adult cell owners use their phones to access the Internet. A review of the district website showed the calendar page was the most popular. "Anything we can do to try to ease the information flow is beneficial," Dylewski said. Access to information helps the district continue to foster an already strong relationship with the community, General McLane schools Superintendent Rick Scaletta said. "They support us," Scaletta said. "We are the community school system, and in a rural district, life centers around the school." Based on community feedback, the district might expand the app or create others in the future, Dylewski said. ERICA ERWIN can be reached at 870-1846 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNerwin. ___ (c)2014 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) Visit the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) at www.GoErie.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |