Providence Christian School educators and parents are raising funds to equip the school with more interactive learning tools, addressing a technology gap they say exists between public and private schools.
The school is gathering pledges and some of the proceeds from the school’s annual Providence Night in March will be dedicated to purchasing interactive whiteboards. Those are whiteboards connected to a computer and projector that display images or a work area on the whiteboard’s surface that can be manipulated by touch or with a stylus. Using an interactive whiteboard, educators can display images to their class on the board or create a chalkboard-like work area.
Emory Latta, principal of Providence, said the devices are a valuable teaching tool that allow educators to teach in a format relevant to the experience of today’s tech-savvy students. Latta also said the boards can reduce the school’s use of paper.
“They put technology at teachers’ fingertips every single day and helps students become engaged,” he said.
The school currently has a handful of the devices spread out among its elementary, middle and high school classes and needs about 15-20 more to fully equip each classroom at Providence. The devices cost about $3,500 each.
Kellie Folger, a Providence parent, said a technology gap may exist between private and public schools because while public schools receive federal funding and grants specifically targeted at providing more technological tools to educators, private schools don’t.
School officials say Providence Night typically raises between $30,000 and $35,000. Folger hopes the fundraising event, coupled with a pledge drive that’s currently ongoing will help Providence purchase more Panaboards, the Panasonic-manufactured brand of interactive whiteboards.
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