Derby Public Schools officially unveiled a “redesigned” high school during a ceremony Monday.
Under Superintendent Matthew Conway, the school district has made an aggressive push into 21st century education. The district has parlayed grant money to heavily invest in online learning.
In July 2014, the state bonding commission approved giving Derby schools about $496,000 to purchase 400 laptops, eight interactive whiteboards and projectors, 23 mobile teacher desks, along with the redesign and renovation of several classrooms in the high school.
The “redesign” Monday signaled the subtle transformation of a 60s-era building into an Internet-age learning environment.
There are new student desks — “flex type“ furniture that is easy to move, “allowing for different configurations for both student-led and teacher-led small groups,” according to Conway.
Every classroom is now equipped with interactive smart board technology.
There are now mobile teacher work stations to allow for use of technology from anywhere in the room, Conway said. The teachers have new desks as well.
A digital curriculum for the lower grades, introduced last year, is expanding.
Every student has a laptop, with 24 – 7 connectivity.
A newly designed media center at the high school will open in October.
Students returned to the classrooms Wednesday for the 2015 – 2016 school year.
During Monday’s ceremony, Karissa Niehoff, the executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools, said Derby High School’s redesign signals “commitment,” to education and technology, not just initiative.
A “convocation” ceremony prior to the ribbon-cutting for the redesigned space included remarks from Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto, state Rep. Themis Klarides, and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who presented certificates to the district’s teachers and paraeducators of the year.
Walt Mayhew, pastor, Walnut Hill Community Church in Derby, spoke about plans for a second annual Derby’s B.E.S.T. walk/run fundraiser.
The event funds projects by teachers that are currently unfunded.
It is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 26 on the Derby Greenway. Proceeds will support teachers’ projects.
He said $3,600 was raised last year and funded nine projects.
This year’s goal is $7,000. The event was scaled down to a one-mile walk/run, Mayhew said.
“We encourage families to participate,” he said, so that more projects can be funded.
Click here for the Derby’s B.E.S.T. website.
Click here for the event’s Facebook page.
