Dist. 300 to purchase 203 interactive whiteboards

Soon, troublemakers in Community Unit District 300 will have to find something other than chalkboard erasers to clean after class.

The District 300 school board on Monday approved the purchase of 203 interactive whiteboards to be used in classrooms across the district.

The boards, made by SMART Technologies, will allow teachers and students to write, draw and manipulate objects on what is basically a large computer screen.

District officials hope the technology will enable teachers to illustrate concepts more effectively across a wide range of subjects and grade levels.

The district tested about 20 whiteboards in district classrooms this school year.

"Kids really like it. They came alive in class," said Eric Willard, District 300's technology director. "The technology keeps them motivated and gets them involved in class."

Teachers who want to use whiteboards in their classroom will receive training and grade-appropriate educational software. So far, about 300 teachers have expressed interest in using the technology, Willard said.

District officials also plan to incorporate whiteboards into the curriculum planning process.

The purchase the board approved Monday is only the first phase of the district's plan to place whiteboards in all 26 district schools.

But Willard said later phases will depend on the success of the district's first large-scale trial.

"If they're not going to be used effectively, we can stop at any point," Willard said.

The district will pay Bradfield's Computer Supply of Peoria about $749,000 for the first order of whiteboards. The money is part of the last remaining chunk of dollars set aside for technology from the district's 2006 tax increase.