Anderson School Board impressed by students' robotic projects

Anderson Middle School students impressed school board members with their in-depth knowledge of robotics during the regular school board meeting last week.

Earlier this semester, students in Mr. Littlefield's STEM class were tasked with constructing and coding a machine to complete a chosen task. They were given no other specifications.

Each of the three groups spent weeks assembling a motor, drafting a body and programming instructions into the machine's memory. Littlefield said each vehicle requires nearly 60 lines of code to operate.

Students then appeared before the school board, inventions in-tow, to exhibit their STEM skills.

One vehicle was modeled after an automobile, which allowed it to move quickly but at an angle due to the curvature of the drive-shaft. Another vehicle was inspired by a forklift. This machine traveled in a slow, straight line, scooped up a plastic cylinder, continued forward and deposited the cylinder into a designated box. The last vehicle was designed with strength in mind, not speed. Similar to a dump truck, the machine sat low to the ground, on a wide base. Students stacked 21 textbooks (a total of 65 pounds) onto the flatbed of the vehicle and watched as it steadily advanced.

School board members inquired about the process of writing code and the struggles of designing a piece of moving machinery before congratulating students on their successful undertaking.

The board decided to table the first reading of the Data Governance and Security policy, agreeing that more time was needed to finish compiling an operations manual.

Mark Stanton called the document a skeleton policy that must broadly encompass the storage and security of student data on all campuses, but the policy will also become a living document as time passes.

"It is an enormous policy and area we are gaining ground and experience on," he said.

The board approved the first reading of a policy regarding the community use of district facilities such as basketball courts, playgrounds, gymnasiums and tracks. Stanton said he conferred with the district's insurance company and it was recommended that signs designating limited-access areas be posted when district facilities are used by community members.

Adam Lett and Robin Leonard updated board members on technology within the district and their vision going into the future.

Lett said they are playing "catch-up" witch technology now, but they soon hope to become proactive about technological updates in order to keep up with the rising emphasis on technology.

Joy Hardridge provided the board with a review of the district's health program.

She said the district has hired another registered nurse, bringing the overall total to four. A new health aide has also been hired, which ensures that an aide is available on every campus.

Health professionals throughout the district are focused on creating detailed individual health plans for students with medical conditions. Individual health plans assess, diagnose and evaluate each student, then implement a plan to meet goals set by a healthcare provider.

Hardridge reported the purchase of new vision screening equipment. She said this model is especially helpful when screening young students or students who struggle to communicate because there are no lines of letters to read back. Instead, students gaze into a light that automatically screens their eyes for any imperfections in sight.

In other business, representatives with L.J. Hart & Company met with the board to discuss lease refunding certificates of participation.

Community on 11/16/2017