M.P.S. faculty, classrooms receive new technology via donors
MIDLAND, Mich. — Midland Public Schools has received $280,760 in gifts from five different donors, with a bulk of that money going toward new technology. The board of education approved these donations Monday, June 21.
The Alden & Vada Dow Family Foundation contributed $165,308 toward acquiring new Samsung Tab S6 Lite devices for MPS faculty, and Swivl Robot education packages for classrooms. 467 Samsung tablets will be ordered from Rochester Hills-based Sehi Computer Products for $146,325.11, with one going to each teacher.
Swivl Robot devices, manufactured by California-based Swivl, are designed to facilitate virtual learning for students who stay home. The device follows the teacher as he or she moves around the classroom, unlike stationary cameras that can’t record all the action. The Swivl devices work in tandem with tablet computers, including the Samsung tablets being given to MPS faculty.
A total of 17 Swivl devices are on order for $1,286 each. MPS superintendent Michael Sharrow told the City Paper that each school will get 4 or less of these devices. Mr. Sharrow elaborated that more devices will be purchased down the road once teachers get used to the new technology.
In addition, MidMichigan Health contributed $85,000 to the H. H. Dow High School Turf Project, with the purpose of getting the scoreboard at the new turf complex. The turf project also received an additional $20,452 from individual donors via the Midland Community Foundation.
AG Financial donated $5,000 to H. H. Dow High for the Maxwell R. Muessig Memorial Scholarship. The Midland Lions Club donated $5,000 to the district for giving students books over the summer.
Michael Piwowarski covers education, including higher ed and Midland Public Schools, for the City Paper.