$30,000/Expanding Learning Through On-line Teaching and Communication Capacity, Phase III        

Final year of a three-year commitment to support the district’s on-line learning initiative using Blackboard. Blackboard is now integrated into day-to-day classroom teaching in the MTSD supporting 138 face-to-face classes and involving more than 3800 students and staff. Benefits, in addition to promoting disciplined self-motivated learners include the following:

 ENHANCED COMMUNICATION-Provides a secure, closed environment discussion board for students to exchange and share ideas. Supports email contact for all high school students and the communication needs of extra-curricular groups.

 FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY- Permits students to continue classroom discussions and submit homework from any location at any time of day. Allows a teacher to conduct student assessments outside of class making precious classroom time more productive. Supports 24/7 parent-teacher-student interaction.

 MONEY AND RESOURCE SAVINGS- Significant savings result from providing classroom materials on-line. Reductions in handouts and hard copies eliminate paper, ink and printer costs throughout the district. Extra-curricular groups, such as National Honor Society, have abandoned expensive “paper” procedures and converted to the on-line system.

$50,167/Community Resource Director

Year one of a two year commitment to support the district’s Community Resource Director position accepted by Dennis Krause in the Fall 2005. This grant award along with generous donations from HHS Booster Club and private individuals are funding this initiative for the initial 2 years, and then the position is to become self-supporting. The goal of the Community Resource Director is to leverage the power of private money through fund development and to enhance public relations for the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Krause has commenced an alumni outreach effort with a newsletter that reaches over 2000 HHS alumni nationwide and is coordinating a naming rights program for the district. PR plans include promoting the MTSD through the local media and the local cable TV channel. Over $62,000 in private donations have been received as a result of this effort in just 7 months!

Information resources and equipment needs will be funded with eSAIL proceeds in the instructional media programs district-wide. This grant made possible through the 2005/06 KILT Fund improves student information literacy and creates a foundation for lifelong learning by providing students with the necessary technology and IMC resources.

Instructional media specialists, in conjunction with department curriculum chairs, have identified specific needs at each school ranging from mounted classroom projectors to digital cameras, science equipment and DVD players in the elementary, middle and the high schools. These are items that were normally funded from individual school budgets; however, as a result of the financial pressure facing the district, these items would not be available in the district without the KILT Fund resources.

$7,000/Supplemental Professional Development