By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INDIAN LAKE - The world is rapidly changing, and to meet those changes the Indian Lake Central School Board of Education was presented with a report from the Technology Committee Oct. 18.

Teachers Susan Norris, Jim Pine and George DeChant presented an overview of the report, which outlines how students will be trained at an early age to be adept at using digital technology to advance their learning in math and English Language Arts, formerly known as the ‘Three Rs:’ reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmatic.’

Much of this effort is in response to federal No Child Left Behind mandates, increased emphasis on testing and the Common Core Curriculum.

The Common Core Curriculum defines the knowledge and skills students should gain within their K-12 years, so they graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and workforce training programs.

The report is a five-year plan that looks at the technology the school has and what it will add, such as computers, tablets and smart boards. It also lays out how students will be taught to use this technology.

It begins with familiarizing second-graders with keyboards and keyboarding, so by Grade 3 they are able to type a full paragraph and save it to disc.

By Grade 5 students will be expected to type 15-20 words per minute and type a full page.

By middle school they will be required to produce a PowerPoint presentation and use Microsoft Excel, a commercial spreadsheet application.

Principal David Snide reported ILCS has been chosen by the New York State Education Department and the NYS Middle School Association to be involved in the selection process of New York State’s Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch recognition program.

This means the school has passed the first hurdle in the process and will go on to the second phase, which includes a visit by a team from NYSMSA.

Schools to Watch are middle schools that have distinguished themselves in academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, organization and structure. Just 16 middle schools across the state have earned the title.

Basketball practice begins Oct. 31, but the school does not know if it will field a modified or junior varsity team this year. It will be one or the other, but not both, because of the number of students who have expressed interest.

“Some kids are uncertain of what they want to do because of increasing academic demands, travel time and time away from school,” Athletic Director John Rathbun said.

The ILCS BOE next meets Tuesday, Nov. 15, staring at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.