More district schools getting SMART boards

Mary A. Castillo

Teachers and students will return to classes this fall with a new

learning tool.

At its meeting last Tuesday, Laguna Beach School District board

members gave their blessing to allocate $50,763 in SchoolPower Funds to

purchase 13 SMART boards for the district schools.

Top of the World, El Morro and Thurston will each receive three boards

and four will go to Laguna Beach High School.

“The benefit of the SMART boards is they’re more engaging for the

students,” said Chris Duddy, principal at Thurston. “They can touch it

and make it perform a computer function.

The middle school initially purchased a board in April with a social

studies grant from the Pacific Life Foundation.

The additional SMART boards from the SchoolPower grant will allow

Thurston students to broaden their use to math, language arts and

science.

The boards will come mounted on a portable stand so multiple teachers

can use them and transport them between classrooms easily.

“We always appreciate the support from SchoolPower, said Steven

Keller, assistant superintendent of instructional services. “I’ve never

seen a group that does more for its schools.”

Eventually, the district would like see a SMART board in every

classroom, Keller said. Until then, board members, parents and teachers

are pleased that they have one more tool to make the classroom a more

engaging place.