By Ben Lawson
ben@seymourherald.com
After a bid to install new computer technology at Seymour Primary School was accepted by the Sevier County School Board Monday night, students and teachers are excited to see the changes at their school.
As part of the U.S. Cellular “Calling all Communities” contest, all the Seymour schools compiled votes for SPS, just as they had for the high school during the last contest.  The competition included schools across the nation and the prize was $150,000, which SPS took home thanks to the efforts of the entire community.
Seymour principals had stressed all along the need for additional funding for technology, since Seymour doesn’t rate a very large technology budget.  
Fundraising and contests go a long way.  Once SPS has used their share of the money, the rest will be divided among the other schools.
Dr. Jan Moore, SPS principal, indicated that their aim was to supply each classroom with technology allowing teachers and students greater access to interactive education media.
Some of Seymour’s classrooms already benefit from interactive whiteboards and computers, but not enough.
The School Board voted to approve a bid by Howard Computers to install SPS classrooms with interactive technology from Mimio.  One of three bids, it was chosen in part thanks to the teachers themselves.
“A teacher leadership team had an opportunity to attend a presentation of products,” Moore indicated.
The rejected bids, including Mobi View and Brink Link systems, were found to be more geared toward older students in one case and did not meet the bid requirements in the other.  The wireless Mimio system allows for greater mobility and student participation.
“Without reservation, we unanimously felt Mimio was the better system for our age students,” Moore said.

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