From the Neosho Daily News.

Schedule of Meetings
6:00 p.m.  - Dinner Work Meeting
6:45 p.m.  - Tax Rate Hearing
7:00 p.m.  - Regular Meeting

WARNING:  You may go into information overload.

Tax Rate Public Hearing will be 8/19 at 6:45 p.m.
Location:  Administration Center

The increased revenue this year has been budgeted to help pay for new technology (1:1 initiative) in the High School and to give raises to different departments within the district.

On this trip I learned a lot about how to integrate technology into the classroom without technology being the focal point of the classroom.

What excites me about technology is that it brings the real world into the class.  In my daily life technology is integrated as a tool to help enhance what I do and my life.  Very little of what I do whether researching for school board, working in sales for my family, running my business designing websites or helping with Bright Futures doesn't require technology.  It is the world we live in.

I understand that there are some that are skeptical about handing each student in the high school a device of some kind.  However, time and time again with Bright Futures we discuss the issue of leveling the playing field. Some students are fortunate to have parents that are able to provide them with all of the latest technology. However, many don't.  Do we want those students to be one step behind in high school because they aren't able to participate in the tech world?  Absolutely not.

Further down I am going to share with you my notes from the trip as well as a report on a pilot program that was done in an Illinois school.

First, transparency!  Here is what happened on the trip as well as how much it cost for me to go.

We left on Monday at 2 p.m.
We flew out of Tulsa at 5 p.m. and arrived in Chicago around 9.

On Tuesday, the conference at Google was from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
We were scheduled to fly back at 8 p.m., but due to flight delay we left Chicago at 9:15 p.m.  We arrived back in Tulsa at midnight and I got home at 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

We were gone exactly 36 hours.  It was a very quick trip!

The total cost for me to attend was $802.73.  This does not include the shared costs of gas for the car, parking at airport or cab fare.
Broken down as follows:
$524.60 for airfare on Southwest
$255.13 for hotel - Midway Airport Marriot
$23.00 for two meals

This trip was paid for by the district.  Since Google is attempting to sell us a product, it is my understanding that there are federal laws prohibiting gifts to anyone in the district, including travel expenses.  However, they did provide us with one meal during the training.

I learned a wealth of information.  Here are my notes from the panel discussion in the afternoon:

Here is a link to the Google pilot program report:  Glenbrook 225

Also, on our flight, the inflight magazine, Spirit, featured a great article on technology in education as its cover story.  Here is the link:  Flipped Out

Please feel free to Contact Me if you have any questions about any information or about the trip.  I went for the good of our students and I believe it was a very productive trip.  It is certainly going to help me when making the decision for which device to have in our classrooms.