Dear Parents,

What would it look like if every student at Unity brought a laptop to school? We don’t have to look far to find schools where this is a reality. This Fall Sibley Ocheydan High School and Spirit Lake High School went to this model of learning. At a recent principal meeting I attended, every conference school is considering going to this model, often called 1:1. In the state of Iowa there are currently 11% of high schools, currently 1:1. Projections are that as many as 30% will be going to a 1:1 model in the next 1-2 years. I believe it is not a matter of if, but when we at Unity go 1:1.

Next Monday night, we are hosting a parent forum to discuss this possibility. Who pays for this massive change? Why are we looking at this now? What are the steps prior to implementation? Is this a for-sure-going-to-happen for Unity? How will we as a Christian school handle this technology differently? Will this mean that the way we teach will change? Is technology driving education? Should it? How can parents help?

Mr. Karl Kaemingk and I will be leading the discussion. I encourage you to attend. We are meeting at 7PM in the chapel / gym balcony area.

Any change we make at the Board level goes through both our mission and our vision. Our mission identifies who are are, and our vision answers the question – where are we going? These are exciting times to bring captive every area of life under the domain of Jesus Christ. May this conversation and future decisions regarding laptops be done for the glory of God.

Sincerely,

Wayne Dykstra