By Rupert Howell
South Panola Schools trustees gave their nod during a special meeting last Thursday for the purchase of computer software that offers online academic diagnostics.
The program identifies a student’s academic level and creates individualized study plans for them while also monitoring  them daily as they work toward meeting mandated standards.
Trustees also approved the low bid for a 4,000 sq. ft. Elementary School physical education building that includes a paved parking lot as well as the alternate to pave a portion of the parking area at South Panola High School for a total bid of $611,000.
MS Construction Company of Pontotoc was low bidder coming in at $150,000 to $300,000 below other bidders.
Questioned by Board President Sandra Darby if the bid difference threw up any “red flags,” Superintendent Tim Wilder responded that architect Gary Bailey had checked references and recommended the bid be approved.
The building is planned for construction on Boothe Street between the First Grade Wing and a nearby residence.
During further discussion on the I-Ready curriculum, an enthusiastic District Curriculum Coordinator Ashely Fonte explained the program would give teachers more time to teach to smaller groups while the program would write “prescriptions” for individual students to work on student-directed instruction in their own highest area of need.
An equally enthusiastic Wilder estimated the cost of $150,000 to get the program under way with an overall yearly cost difference of approximately $100,000.
He also stated the district would need to purchase approximately 700 new Chromebooks (computer pads) to make the program successful.
That led veteran school board member Lygunnah Bean to ask when the district could have each student with computer pad, or one-on-one ratio like Oxford and Tupelo School Districts.
Wilder said he thought the district was a few years away from that, noting the tremendous tax bases in those two counties, while also stating he would obtain figures on the cost of the concept by the October board meeting.
“I want to be one-on-one. There’s no reason we can’t be like Tupelo and Oxford,” Bean stated.
Wilder estimated that six to eight years would be a good case scenario to have the one-on-one computer tablet ratio at current funding.
“I want a goal set in two to three years for one-on-one,” Bean answered, stating he thought some individuals and businesses would be willing to help reach that goal.
Despite the addition of the software and computer tablets, Wilder emphasized, “Teachers are still the primary source of learning. Teachers are still making the critical decisions. This is just a tool to help them do their jobs.”
Wilder and Fonte agreed that most teachers had been enthusiastic about using the system with Wilder explaining that about 70 school districts are using them throughout the state with those teachers and school districts reporting positive results.
Wilder also told board members that he could “kick himself” for not recommending the program two years earlier, noting that schools using the program are looking at better results than he is expecting South Panola to see next month when state test results are revealed.
The program will be used in all grades K-12, with grades 3-8 using it extensively and K-2 and 9-12 using it partially. Wilder expects the software and tablets to be in place by mid-October.