
Students were back in their seats for another year as of Tuesday. New technology is making an appearance in some classrooms this year. Promethean boards are being installed in classrooms across the district as part of the i-21 Initiative, which voters championed as part of Proposition S last November. “They’re interactive light boards,” said Jack Brandais, spokesman for the San Diego Unified School District. “They’re like a computer touch-screen that’s the size of a school classroom chalkboard. Teachers can pull up Websites right away if they have their content for their lessons online, or if they have a PowerPoint on their computer they can teach directly on there.” Brandais said 1,600 classrooms have the boards already in place, and all third-, sixth- and ninth-grade classrooms will have the boards installed by the end of 2009. The Promethean boards are the first step of i-21, which will bring high-speed Internet with WiFi capability to all district schools within three years. For more information on Prop S, visit www.sandi.net/props. Cafeterias will also change to cater more toward fast service, hand-held food and outdoor seating instead of the meatloaf and mashed potato sit-down meals of the past. Carts will be placed in the quads outside to help reduce cafeteria lines. Attendance is also a target for the school district that will expand the “GAME On!” ninth-grade attendance initiative across the district. Awards will be given to students with high attendance on a weekly, quarterly, semester and year-end basis.