WELLSBORO — Wellsboro Area School District administrators took a deeper look at the use of computers in the schools.
At recent meetings, the board questioned whether a one-to-one system for the middle and high school students is needed and whether those devices should go home with students. At the March 10 combined work session and meeting, superintendent Cheryl Sottolano reported some findings to the board. She provided information on replacement costs for the current system, usage in the classroom, effectiveness and efficiency, and the results of a teacher survey.
The Don Gill and Charlotte Lappla elementary schools use a Chromebook cart, where students can access a computer as needed. Middle school students are assigned a Chromebook in fifth grade, which they use until eighth grade. High school students are assigned a laptop, said Sottolano.
The district will spend about $160,000 to replace 550 Chromebooks for grades K-4 this year and another $135,000 in 2026-27 for middle school devices.
In a survey, teachers indicated they used the devices for varying amounts of time, but had fewer incidents of students using the devices off task. Sottolano said that is because many teachers are very clear about when devices should and should not be in use.
The majority of educators also indicated that they believe the devices enhance education and support student learning.
Sottolano provided the full report to the board for review. She also noted that it’s important to use devices as a tool.
“We can’t have a society where kids quit thinking,” Sottolano said. “Our job as a public education system is to teach them to use technology appropriately.”
From a recent workshop, a presenter said that schools need to shift from assessing the product to assessing the process. Students are usually one of two types of users: those who use devices to learn and become better thinkers and those who use devices to “get in trouble,” she said.
During public comment, David Messineo, a resident former board member, urged the board to ask the “right questions”: what does learning progression look like from K-12, how will the district measure whether devices are effective, and what is the real potential of devices.
To create an effective program, the district must have the technology available, define how it will be used and train the teachers who will put the plan into action.
“Don’t debate whether to buy devices. Debate what programs those devices will serve,” Messineo said. “Require that every dollar spent on hardware has a corresponding commitment to teacher training and a measurable student outcome attached to it.”
2026-27 budget
Business manager Jordan DeHaas reported on the preliminary budget figures. With no tax increase, district revenues are projected at $30,482,153, she said. That includes the same amount from the state, and a $35,000 decrease in local taxes due to the number of properties entering Clean and Green.
Expenditures are currently estimated at $31,233,739, resulting in a $751,286 deficit. Salaries and benefits account for $22.2 million, or 71% of expenses. The maximum the district could raise the tax millage is 4.5%, which would increase millage by 0.45 mills and generate $518,686.
In April, administrators will bring the preliminary final budget to the board, along with several options, such as a partial tax increase and using reserve funds. The board will vote on the proposed budget in May, put it on public display for 30 days, and adopt the final budget by June 30.
In unrelated business, the board agreed to allow a group to use the back parking lot and room in the administrative office building for a motorcycle safety course. The group will paint small lines on the parking lot to create a course and place a storage unit on school grounds.
