Board debates benefits of high-tech instructional table
By Standard Press staff
After listening to the results of a recent survey of district residents on Monday, the Burlington Area School District Board of Education voted send its plan for spending pandemic relief funds to the state for approval.
The action paves the way for the district to receive $3.4 million in ESSER III funds – which stands for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief.
Most of the board discussion Monday centered on the proposal to earmark $100,000 of the funding for the purchase of a virtual, three-dimensional cadaver table for the anatomy and physiology classes at Burlington High School.
While the table is viewed by many as a feather in the cap of the school’s science department, some others – including six of the 93 survey respondents – believe the table is an expensive luxury and the money could be better spend elsewhere.
Board member Barry Schmaling, who has been an advocate for the purchase of the table, was one of several board members who spoke in favor of keeping the high-tech table in the plan.
“This is a chance to provide something that impacts not only our students, but our community,” he said, in reference to the push to recruit and develop future health care workers.
Board member Taylor Wishau called it a “golden opportunity” to set the district apart.
“No other schools in the area have this,” he said. “This is a win for us.”
Wishau also said the district could find ways to use the table for classes in a wide range of grade levels.
With the district anticipating tough financial times beginning next school year, board member Susan Kessler said it would be a mistake to pass up the chance.
“This is probably our only opportunity to do this,” she said.
However, School Board President Peter Turke cautioned his colleagues to consider the financial challenges ahead for the district.
“I think we should pause (the proposal) for one year and then make it a priority for the next year,” he said.
In addition to the initial expense the cadaver table comes with maintenance and software upgrade cost of $15,000 every two years.
Despite Turke’s words of caution the board voted to send the original plan – with the cadaver table included – to the state Department of Public Instruction for approval.
To read the entire story, see the Feb. 17 edition of the Burlington Standard Press.
For more see: ESSER funds
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