City, schools partnership is switched on

Support coming for new programs in technology

By Stephanie Bertholdo  bertholdo@theacorn.com

The city of Agoura Hills last week agreed to an ambitious technology partnership with the Las Virgenes Unified School District, envisioned as a way to change how students learn.

After Measure G6, the $128-million facilities/technology bond measure was passed by voters in June, the school district rolled out a comprehensive technology plan including the purchase of new computers, high-tech projectors and other electronics for teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The bond measure, however, doesn't allow spending for teacher training or maintenance of the new equipment.

According to school district officials, the equipment purchase is only one piece of the technology puzzle. Teachers and school administrators must be taught to use the equipment and a "tech squad" must be hired to maintain the new equipment.

School officials want the cities of Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Calabasas and Hidden Hills to join forces to help pay for ongoing training of teachers and the maintenance of equipment. With Agoura Hills in the fold, agreements with the remaining three cities are expected to be reached soon.

"We are encouraged that all four cities are seriously considering this partnership idea and are excited about being involved with us," Superintendent Sandra Smyser said. "Over the years all four cities have supported our district and our children in all kinds of ways. This effort to coordinate the support and jointly enter into a project that is beneficial to all students in all parts of the district is unique."

School board President Terilyn Finders said two trainers are needed, one for elementary school teachers and the other for middle and high school teachers.

The trainers would stay abreast of cutting-edge instruction and offer "model lessons" that could be easily downloaded and replicated by teachers.

A.E. Wright's seventh-grade science teacher Greg Bostrom said his students can watch video clips of an actual beating heart with a new multimedia projection system that broadcasts Internet video onto an overhead screen. A subwoofer speaker system adds to the excitement by allowing students to feel the vibrations of a beating heart.

Bostrom said new technology can invigorate both learning and teaching. "Teachers are giddy at times," he said. Bostrom said the new technology allows teachers to download projects from many online sources, including projects from NASA's website.

In Agoura Hills, council members voted to support the city/school partnership with an existing mechanism: redevelopment funds. The Agoura Hills Redevelopment Agency--which also funds blight control and affordable housing projects in the city--received $2.3 million last year in RDA funding and expects to receive increased amounts with each passing year.

The money comes from an increase in property taxes that local residents have had to pay since the agency was formed 16 years ago.

Twenty percent of the RDA funds are used for the city's housing programs, including a first time homebuyer's program for teachers and public workers. The remaining money is "passed through" to several agencies including Los Angeles County, the community college system and the Las Virgenes Unified School District.

City officials said the requirements of the RDA can be "relaxed" so that the school district can redirect funds to teacher training and equipment maintenance.

The Agoura Hills allocation this year will be $269,000.

According to Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent, the funds have been used in the past to pay for maintenance and repair of schools located in RDA areas.

"It is important to remember that these are in fact not city funds, but school district funds that are diverted to the RDA with a portion then 'passed through' back to the district," Zimring said.

Mayor Dan Kuperberg said Agoura Hills' first year of the three-year commitment might be lower than anticipated but would be made up in upcoming years when RDA funds are expected to grow.

Council members said they did not want to dip into the city's general fund to obtain extra money.