[09/04/03] As buses rolled Wednesday morning, four teachers gave Superintendent James Price their thoughts on:

Bringing technology into the classrooms,

The possibility of going to school year-around,

Allowing a gifted education teacher to teach workshops to teachers and administrators,

Updating art department facilities at Warren Central High School and,

Hiring highly qualified substitute teachers.

It wasn’t a hostile session, just another in the series of “Coffee With The Superintendent” meetings Price established when he became CEO of the 8,700-student district, its $59.5 million budget and 1,339 employees.

Andra Bonelli, a gifted education teacher at Beechwood and Warrenton Elementary schools, talked about a workshop she attended this summer that taught ways to maximize students’ brains to learn more efficiently.

She told Price she was willing to teach skills to teachers and principals of schools.

“I’m willing to give each school a workshop,” she said. “I’m offering my services.”

Embracing technology within the school district was also a topic of lengthy discussion.

Price said plans were being developed to make tasks such as calling roll, keeping grades and completing reports electronic.

“We have technicians developing software now to make this happen,” he said.

This would allow teachers more time to teach, Price said.

“We want to have electronic grade books so teachers and administrators can access the daily progress of each class and of each student,” he said.

Issues regarding teachers receiving supplements for extracurricular activities and updating art facilities were among topics brought to light by Randy Jolly, head of the art department at Warren Central High School.

Jolly asked Price to look at the supplement scale of teachers and coaches who help with other activities and clubs. He said school districts in other areas of the state receive more money than those in VWSD.

Regarding the art facilities at the high school, Jolly said more space and updated equipment are needed. Price said he’d tour facilities with the district’s architect at the end of this month.

“I asked him to come out and look at our facilities,” Jolly said, noting teachers would like to add their ideas if renovations are made. “That’s all we can ask at this point.”

The educators briefly discussed the possibility of going to school year-round. Price has said administrators are studying the possibility of having school in nine-week sessions with three-week breaks for remedial and enrichment programs.

After the meeting as teachers headed to their schools, they said they were pleased with the meeting.

“I feel very positive about what’s happening in the school district,” Jolly said. “I’m excited about the movement and changes, and I feel like we’re going to grow from this.”

And Neeli Watts, a kindergarten teacher at Dana Road Elementary School, said she can tell Price cares about teachers’ concerns.

“It’s encouraging to know our opinions matter,” she said.

Sign-up lists at schools allow faculty members to enroll for the weekly sessions.