Shrewsbury – On Jan. 15, the Floral Street Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization voted to make a major financial donation to the Floral Street School to enable the school to meet its goal of employing interactive technology across 100 percent of the core classrooms.
“The PTO's purchase of 17 interactive whiteboards means that every student at Floral Street School, all 790 of them, will have universal access to the interactive and engaging learning experiences made possible through use of this technology,” Principal Lisa McCubrey said. “Teachers will be able to design lessons where the whole class can have access to digital content and opportunities to interact with content and concepts in ways not previously possible.”
With 16 whiteboards already installed and in use in core classrooms, Floral Elementary was slightly less than halfway towards the goal of equipping all 33 core classrooms. With the PTO's purchase of 17 whiteboards, the school will reach its goal of 100-percent installation.
“This investment represents years of planning and saving and would not have been possible without the leadership and commitment from all PTO members that have served at Floral since it opened, and we are grateful to the Floral parents both past and present who donated time and funds to PTO efforts that allowed us to make this substantial and significant investment,” PTO President Hannah Kane said.
Shrewsbury Superintendent of Schools Joseph Sawyer met the news with deep gratitude.
“Challenging financial times have made the implementation of the school district's technology goals difficult.… This significant contribution will enhance learning opportunities for all of our Floral Street students by providing our teachers with access to powerful teaching tools,” he said.
The installation of the boards is now tentatively scheduled to take place over the February school break. Also underway is planning professional development for all teachers who will receive the whiteboards.
“We are so grateful to the PTO executive board and its members for their vision, tenacity, and tireless fundraising efforts that made this investment in our students” education possible,” McCubrey said.
