PBL ADVANTAGE CAMPAIGN

Mike White, Mary Ager, and Sharla McCoy took time from their teaching duties to demonstrate the new smartboards that have been purchased with funds collected in the Advantage . . . PBL Campaign.  The demonstrations preceded a luncheon held on March 20 in the Board room at PBL Junior High School.

The Paxton-Buckley-Loda Education Association launched a technology fund-raising initiative called Advantage . . . PBL in May, 2007.  The Foundation's goal was to raise $120,000 to provide technological components to all levels of PBL's schools.

Cliff McClure, PBL Superintendent of Schools, stated, “This is awesome--the Education Foundation perceives a need for equipment such as smart boards, projectors, mobile computer labs, and software that will give our students at Clara Peterson Elementary, Eastlawn Upper Elementary, PBL Junior High, and PBL High School a competitive edge.”

Advantage . . . PBL committee members are Todd Coady, Dave Dowling, Carl Hudson, Jr., Dale Meyer, Cliff McClure, and Theresa Rueck. To date, over $60,000 has been committed.  Ten Promethean smartboards, 10 laptops with the requisite software to work with the boards, and 10 projectors have been purchased.  The School District purchased one such setup last summer, and the High School Ag Department has used Career & Tech Education Grant Funding money to purchase a board that will permanently be housed in their department.

A core of six to eight teachers already has some knowledge of how to use the equipment.  They will receive additional training from the Promethean company.  That core group will in turn provide training for all teachers in the district.  Ag teacher Mike White says, “We see the smartboard creating a more interactive classroom environment.  While it will not take the place of hands-on learning, students will be able to engage in the lessons to a level that before was not possible.  We expect to see student participation and interest improve.”

Donors are still needed to reach the Foundation’s goal of $120,000.  Any size donation will be helpful, but contributors who donate either $3,000 as a lump sum or $1,000 each year over a three-year period will be considered charter members of the campaign.  The $3,000 figure is roughly the cost of one setup—a smartboard, laptop, and projector.  Special recognition will be given to charter members.  Each piece of equipment in the setup they financed will bear their name.
 

The Advantage PBL campaign is also looking for donors to fund at least two much-needed mobile computer labs. The mobile labs consist of 20 laptop computers that fit into a mobile cabinet that teachers can roll into their rooms.   Currently, the PBL staff members have a waiting list to get into the fully booked computer labs.  The cost of one mobile lab is $20,000.   The entire mobile lab and each individual laptop will be identified with the donor’s name.  Think of the exposure you or your company will receive when students use a lab bearing your name.

The Education Foundation is a charitable organization, so all contributions are tax-deductible.  If you have any questions about the fund-raising initiative, call one of the Advantage . . . PBL project committee members:
 

Todd Coady at 217-386-2512
 Carl Hudson at 217-379-4236
 Dale Meyer at 217-379-2028
Theresa Rueck at 217-395-2425

To see a list of Advantage . . . PBL donors, visit Advantage . . . PBL Donor Page

Click here for a Contribution Form to send along with your donation.