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Please Help These Students!!

Voting extended due to Sandy

November 22, 2012
Because of Hurricane Sandy, Voting will start on November 12 to ensure that all nominees have power and can vote.

Westmont Hilltop Elementary School has been nominated for a Power A Brighter Future Grant from Clorox.  
They can win $50,000 for iPads!  
They need votes, votes, votes!!!
Due to budget restraints, Westmont Hilltop School District spends less per student than 491 of the 500 districts in Pa. (openpagov). Spending has historically been low, but is currently causing increased difficulty. Our teachers have taken a pay freeze, but we have still needed to reduce the number of teachers and administrators, even as our pupil population grows. Our community participates in various fundraisers. Despite these endeavors, we have needed to cut technology spending. Our elementary school serves 632 students (U.S. Department of Ed.) in grades K-4 using a classroom lab of 28 usable computers and two portable iPad Learning Labs each with 20 iPads. Homerooms use the lab for computer class once every five day cycle to learn computer and typing skills. The iPad portable labs are shared. Teachers are prepared to use iPads in classrooms providing high quality instruction, but need the equipment to do so. This grant will give us the tools needed to provide our children with essential 21st Century Skills.
How this Grant will Help:
The cost to purchase three additional iPad Learning Labs is $50,047.00. These classroom carts will add 60 iPads to be shared among the 632 students in our elementary school. The iPads will be integrated into existing curriculum, allowing students the opportunity to use mobile technology in meaningful situations. In the near future, students will need to use these skills in higher learning classrooms and their future workplaces. The increased access to technology paired with exceptional teaching will better educate our children, and provide them with essential 21st Century Skills.
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