Laptop proposal clarified

By Celeste Calvitto, Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, January 17, 2006

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PIERRE - Gov. Mike Rounds’ much-discussed proposal to provide laptop computers to high school students has been misconstrued, the state’s top education official said Wednesday.

“I’m afraid the vision is that there’s this big truck that pulls up in a community, the door opens and all these kids have a laptop under their arm and take off running,” Rick Melmer, South Dakota education secretary, told the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee. “That isn’t what this is about, but I am not going to blame anybody other than the department of education for creating that message.”

Melmer said that the plan, unveiled during Rounds’ budget address last month, “has become a lightning rod for the 2010 education initiative. I know it (the laptop proposal) is a controversial program. I welcome questions because I want you to be informed rather than believe everything you hear that may or may not be true.”

Melmer said that right now, “we are just trying to get the program going. It’s perceived that there’s skepticism rather than support. But school superintendents are calling, and the interest is a little higher than people might think.”

Rounds wants to use $13 million to help school districts buy or lease laptop computers for high school students. Schools that choose to participate would provide $2 for every $1 provided by the state.

“We want to start with small pilot projects,” Melmer said. “The state is willing to pay one-third of the cost for districts that want to participate as a way of getting it started.” He said that in developing legislation, “the challenge is that districts need to make decisions on this long before the end of this session. If we wait until end of session, we are not going to have enough time to anything for next year. We have money in hand for small pilot projects.”

He said schools would enter into three-year leases and pay over that period of time. “In three years, the state may have to step away and the districts pick up the cost. We are trying to be up-front about that. We are trying to jump-start the program in hopes that districts can pick it up,” he said, adding that the cost of laptops continues to decrease.

In response to legislators’ questions about how cash-strapped districts would be able to participate or how they would pay technical support staff after a program is in place, Melmer said there could be some flexibility through use of capital-outlay funds.

“If a district decides to pay 100 percent of the cost of the computers out of capital outlay, the state can write a check for one-third of the cost, and the district can use it for the general fund or any way they need to make the project work,” he said.

He did say that for some districts, it will be a matter of priorities and of sharing costs.

“Those schools that can’t afford it shouldn’t do it, plain and simple,” he said. “If they are too small to make the budget work, maybe they need to talk about getting together with their neighbor. Then, they would have the money to handle technology support. If you are 40 miles from your neighbor, that’s a different story. But if you are 10 miles from your neighbor, it’s time to talk to them and find the efficiencies you need by getting together.”

Melmer said he believes the program is essential for the success of students.

“All you have to do is look around the room and see that there are people in our society today who are reliant on technology,” Melmer said. “Our young people fit that description to a ‘T.’ What we are trying to do is make the learning experience for high school more compatible to their world.”

He said that about 30 percent of students probably don’t have access to computers at home because of financial limits. “The only way they will get access is if we give it to them through the schools,” he said.

Melmer also said that students entering post-secondary education must be familiar with technology.

“I don’t care whether it’s a technology institute or a college,” Melmer said. “It used to be that in our vocational schools, if you had a hammer and nails and some muscles, you could make it work. It is becoming more and more important for kids to be technologically literate in all aspects of society, not just if you are college bound.”

On other issues:

n Melmer was asked what projections the education department has made in light of a funding adequacy study by a coalition of education groups. The Education Alliance says that public schools in South Dakota are underfunded by $800 per student.

Melmer said the report lacks details about how that figure was determined. He said the department would comment when the coalition releases another report on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

n Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Jerry Apa, R-Lead, criticized school districts in eastern South Dakota “that have gotten together for athletic teams but won’t consolidate.”

“For many of us, athletics ended with high school, but education continues,” Apa said. “I’m appalled that they won’t consolidate for the purpose of educating children. What if a law were to be passed that they can’t do it (combine athletic teams) without consolidating?” he asked.

“There would be a great gnashing of teeth,” Melmer said. “(Consolidation) is clearly not just about the money. It’s an emotional decision.”

Contact Celeste Calvitto at 394-8438 or Celeste.Calvitto@rapidcityjournal.com