Schools In MO Kick Off Year With New Upgrades By Cheryl Conway A new school year is underway and in Mt. Olive upgrades galore- from a new administration building and other facility enhancements, to the latest in technology such as hundreds of more ChromeBooks, new robots, SMART boards, laptop computers for elementary students, STEM equipment and 3D printers. While textbooks still exist, more teachers are utilizing online textbooks and google classroom for information and communication. “As always, we have planned a host of improvements to make our mission of preparing our students for the future easier,” says Dr. Larrie Reynolds, superintendent of Mt. Olive schools. “A host of exciting new learning tools are on the way and should be available by day one of the 2015-16 school year.” He says, “Another 400 ChromeBook computers are now available for junior and senior classes at MOHS.” In addition, the middle school is getting a grade level’s worth of additional computing machines as well. “We hope to see every “core” middle and high school teacher with access to a class-set of fully functional computers by the end of September,” says Reynolds. “Elementary schools will have additional machines as well. By October, our goal is to see that every “core” teaching classroom has at least one cart of laptop computers with the goal of having one computer available for every other student in grade 2-5.” Reynolds continues: “New robots have arrived in district as well. The innovative NAO robots class will be receiving additional Humanoids and all schools will see the amazing new VGo robots from time to time. VGo’s allow students unable to attend school in person (due to causes beyond their control) to fully participate. We hope to see these new devices in operation within the first month of school.” In addition, “New musical instruments will help accentuate what I consider to be our “best-in-class” music programs,” he says. Other new technological devices include “Up to date wireless cameras” which “will dramatically improve our TV/Media programming. Science cameras and other equipment will offer new ways to explore the unknown. Additional SMART Boards, futuristic STEM equipment, 3D printers, and high-tech Google cardboard virtual reality viewers should help make learning even more fun (and important). New curriculum resources will be offered for first grade reading, high school math and chemistry, and middle school science classes as well.” New musical instruments will help accentuate what “I consider to be our ‘best-in-class’ music programs. Up to date wireless cameras will dramatically improve our TV/Media programming. Science cameras and other equipment will offer new ways to explore the unknown. Additional SMART Boards, futuristic STEM equipment, 3D printers, and high-tech Google cardboard virtual reality viewers should help make learning even more fun (and important). New curriculum resources will be offered for first grade reading, high school math and chemistry, and middle school science classes as well. Exciting for about 35 school administrators is the new central office administration building they get to work in starting this month. Located at 227 U.S. Route 206 west in Flanders, near the After restaurant and the Rt. 206 Golf center, the new office building is around 25 years old. It is part of the Northwest Professional Center, a 40,000 square-foot facility recently acquired by the board of education. The property includes two 20,000 square-foot office buildings. The board will occupy most of one building, and lease out the remaining space as well as the second building to area businesses. “It has been used as an office building for several decades,” says Reynolds. “We think it’s the nicest in town.” Housed at its current site since around 1980, the school administration building on Route 46 Budd Lake was remodeled at some point as it used to be the Budd Lake School 90 years ago. “The existing site is to be sold,” says Reynolds. “Until sale, we will use it as a storage and maintenance center.” Purchasing a new building was a better option for the district as opposed to renovating the existing building. “The new building offers the district a source of revenue and pushes forward the construction of the MOHS PIT project,” says Reynolds, “by freeing up funds previously earmarked for renovation.” Reynolds explains that “Through the procurement of this site, funds set aside for the exiting administrative building remodel were freed up to renovate the MOHS “PIT” arena. The PIT’s 20,000 square foot space will be transformed into an amazing array of very cool learning spaces by this time next year. New 3D Copying labs, a “maker space” for design and engineering classes, an audio engineering recording studio, and a multi-use intimate performance arena will be constructed this year that will give Mt. Olive kids advantages they have never had before!” says Reynolds. Other facilities improvements this year include “a good deal of concrete and asphalt work completed at just about every site,” says Reynolds. “A new bus parking lot will help our drivers immensely. New sidewalks at MOMS and repairs to our driveways will also keep both pedestrians and motorists safe. “ New water tanks for Sandshore and MOHS were installed; Mountain View got new ceiling tiles; MOHS will have newly renovated student-use restrooms, team rooms, a new track and a new athletic field- “both should be open for play this fall.” As for improvements in learning spaces, MOHS got a science laboratory added and a new science learning space; and a remodeled photo room along with an art classroom. The middle school’s stage is being replaced. Some changes are being made with the district’s programming. “We plan to significantly reduce the number of internal assessments while at the same time, giving our faculty and staff members needed information concerning student learning progress,” says Reynolds. “To do this, we have adopted the Renaissance Star 360 assessment system for launch this September. The system allows teachers to screen and group students for targeted instruction, measure student growth, predict performance on summative exams, and monitor achievement on Common Core or state standards. “The program will give Mt. Olive K-8 faculty valid, reliable, actionable