News Briefs

School board kicks in for rec district

Norwood’s school board kicked in $1,000 to support the Norwood Area Recreation Task Force efforts to form a special tax district and to put the rec center issue on a ballot.
The task force hired a firm this month to help them with the formation of a new special district and with getting the bond issue before voters as soon as May.
The board did not formally endorse the rec center proposal, which has only been roughly outlined in order to see how much of a municipal bond is needed to construct the project. Some board members asked Principal Jim Hoffman if the proposed rec center would duplicate the facilities that exist at the school, but Hoffman said that a new center would alleviate the already-crowded school gym and other rooms.
“I have more requests for the use of this facility than I have space,” said Hoffman.

Developmental screening offered free

Just because your child is not in school yet, doesn’t mean it’s too early for tests.
The Child Find developmental screening tests the physical and cognitive growth of all infants, toddlers and preschool children up to five years of age — for free.
The screening is sponsored by the Norwood School District and the Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Services, and takes place at Wright’s Mesa Center in Norwood on Friday, Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
There is no charge, but it is necessary to make an appointment by calling Cindy at Norwood Elementary School at 327-4336. Those who need a Spanish translator can contact Ursula at 728-1754.

Norwood High School goes high tech

Students are no longer stuck at their desks in Norwood —  a grant from EnCana, coupled with funds from the school district, helped the school to purchase 15 new laptop computers, a new server, several wireless routers, a laptop cart and an LCD projector.
Librarian and tech specialist Carrie Andrew and technology director Don Wilson wrote the grant proposal that set the wheels of learning in motion.
“The new laptop lab in the library has greatly expanded our students’ ability to use and access technology,” said Andrew. “With the ten desktops in the library already, it is now possible to bring down any size class to work on assignments or research or to have several smaller classes working in the library at once.”
Andrew said that during exam time the Spanish and English exams were given online in the library while the mobile laptop cart was used in classrooms to type final papers.
“The students are so excited to use the computers and to explore all the features that come with new technology that I have seen students who were previously almost techno-phobic become competent or at least on the road to proficient computer-users,” said Andrew.
The EnCana grant came at the end of the last school year, and the equipment was purchased this fall. Andrew said the laptops have been up and running since December.