Town resident criticizes school's computer program

NORTH CANAAN — An unexpected critique of a portion of the school curriculum, and the town in general, was the second order of business at the Nov. 12 Board of Education meeting.

The first was to elect new officers. Elections this month found former chair Martha Scott retired from the board, and only one new member. The new chair is Dolores Perotti. Vice chair is Richard Greco. Beth McGuire was elected secretary.

 During the public comment portion, resident Sheila Scott said the school and town are “behind the times.â€

It was unclear if Scott was aware of the extent of technology available to students at North Canaan Elementary School (NCES). But she opened her comments by calling NCES students “computer illiterate†and said they are not provided with skills they will need to be competitive.

Are computers up to date?

Scott said she recently returned to North Canaan after 45 years, and is shocked by how behind the times the town is.

She said she was appalled by the local library and the lack of timely information on the town Web site.

Principal Rosemary Keilty invited Scott to take a tour during a school day to see technology in use.

“We have a great number of computers, including a computer lab and three carts of laptops that get a lot of use in the classrooms,†Keilty said. “Students start computer lab in first grade.â€

Scott asked if the school takes advantage of free software.

Keilty said they found free software to be lacking.

“In order to be competitive, as you say, the purchased software is much better,†Keilty said.

New board member Karen Riccardelli opened a discussion about computer and Internet access students have, or don’t have, at home. She suggested NCES consider a program similar to one at Kent Center School, where laptops were donated for the use of a portion of students. She also noted that financial constraints prevent laptops from being updated and repaired.

Riccardelli also said that families who cannot afford Internet access could find spots in their home where a neighbor’s wireless network could provide access, as she does in her own home.

The comment prompted board member Susan Warner to ask if that was legal.

Keilty said the school will soon know exactly how many families have Internet access when the school’s Web site goes “live†Nov. 24. In an effort to save paper and the expense of printing, notices will be e-mailed to parents. Those without e-mail will have to notify the school in order to continue to receive hard copies.

Chairman Perotti said the school employs a full-time computer teacher who stays on top of the technological needs of the students.

The school has a long-range technology plan, designed to optimize the considerable portion of the annual budget spent on acquiring new technology and products and maintenance.

Viruses (not in computers)

Parents and community members can also find at northcanaanelementaryschool.org updates on the flu and H1N1. There has been one confirmed case of HINI at NCES.

Keilty said absences are currently about 22 per day for 331 students. That is only slightly higher than at this time last year, although it has been as high as 14 percent, or about 40 students.

Absences show spikes in various grades, which is typical when the cause is mostly a highly infectious illness. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are provided to classrooms, the building is thoroughly cleaned every night and hand washing is stressed. Students and staff are urged to stay home when exhibiting symptoms.

Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain reported the Region One central office has been very short-staffed due to illness, but they do not intend to close unless absolutely necessary.

Latest News

Club baseball at Fuessenich Park

Travel league baseball came to Torrington Thursday, June 26, when the Berkshire Bears Select Team played the Connecticut Moose 18U squad. The Moose won 6-4 in a back-and-forth game. Two players on the Bears play varsity ball at Housatonic Valley Regional High School: shortstop Anthony Foley and first baseman Wes Allyn. Foley went 1-for-3 at bat with an RBI in the game at Fuessenich Park.

 

  Anthony Foley, rising senior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, went 1-for-3 at bat for the Bears June 26.Photo by Riley Klein 

 
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

Keep ReadingShow less
Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit lakevillejournal.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

Keep ReadingShow less