Stimulus cash helping District 116 technology needs

Round Lake Area Unit District 116 has been awarded $850,000 in federal stimulus money to upgrade technology for students.

Illinois State Board of Education officials announced the District 116 award Wednesday. The Round Lake area's school system was one of 15 across Illinois selected to share in $10 million in federal stimulus cash for school technology improvements.

District 116 Chief Executive Officer Ben Martindale said the $850,000 will allow the purchase of laptop computers for all middle school students. He said it's hoped the students have the laptops in the 2010-11 academic year.

Children in grades six through eight attend John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake and Round Lake Middle School in Round Lake Heights.

Martindale said Round Lake High School freshmen received a personal laptop for the current school year through a similar grant. Plans call for all Round Lake High students to have district-owned laptops.

Illinois school districts that were eligible for the federal stimulus money had to meet certain criteria, such as having the highest percentage of low-income families or having a substantial need for help in acquiring technology.

State education officials said the goal is to have every student become technology literate by the end of eighth grade.