Several schools will see technology updates soon after the Newton County Board of Education approved the updates - most of which will be paid for out of E-rate funding.

Director of Technology and Media Services Dr. Gary Shattuck presented a proposal to the Newton County Board of Education in their June meeting, outlining the schools that are eligible for reimbursement, as well as first and second priority schools that have not had technology updates for many years.

First priority schools are East Newton and Mansfield Elementary, Indian Creek Middle and Eastside High, which had no updates in 17 years. Also included on that list is Oak Hill Elementary which has had no updates in 11 years. The request for all of these schools is for equipment, cabling and wireless.

In total, it would cost more than $1.3 million to outfit all first priority schools with the products requested.

However, with E-rate funding, it would cost the NCSS only $459,680 - a savings of $843,828 to the NCSS.

Second priority schools are Fairview, Newton County Theme School and Rocky Plains Elementary, Cousins and Veterans Memorial Middle and Alcovy High. Work has already been done at the theme school and Cousins Middle. The total cost for the products requested (wireless for FES, NCTS and CMS and equipment and wireless for RPES, VMMS and AHS) is $473,913 but would cost the NCSS only $101,067 - a savings to the NCSS of $372,846.

To supply both first and second priority schools with the products needed would leave a deficit of $25,289 which would have to be supplemented. The money would not come out of the system's general fund, since capital monies are available for these updates.

After several minutes of discussion, the board approved the update of both first and second priority schools.