Letter to the Editor: Support Tech Upgrades For Northville Schools

- Submitted by Alissa Lowman, a resident of the Northville Public Schools District 

As a parent of two children attending Thornton Creek Elementary School and another who will join Northville Public Schools in two years, I view the passage of the Technology Bond as essential to their learning. Our children are the Net Generation, and our schools need to be adequately equipped with up-to-date technology that meets their current digital learning needs. Kids born since the 1990s have not known a world without the Internet and computers. With updated technology like interactive white boards, new computers and learning labs for ALL students to access, and the capability to connect and collaborate with other students worldwide through digital web streaming, each of my children will be immersed in technology and actively engaged in the classroom.

I feel the use of technology, or lack there of, will greatly impact my children's learning in the classroom, their ability to get into certain colleges, and in the future may even inhibit the edge they may have in finding a job. Times are very different for our children than they were for us. They must have advanced digital skills for high school online courses (part of the new Michigan Department of Education graduation requirements), the majority of college courses, and to compete in today’s job market.

Lastly, with an upgrade in our schools' current technology, the Northville Public Schools would draw more families into our community, versus losing them to surrounding districts and/or nearby private schools, which have cutting-edge technology already in place. Knowing this Technology Bond will NOT increase my current taxes, but will deeply impact my children's learning, I encourage all Northville school district parents and residents to vote YES!

Interested in submitting a letter to the editor? Email it to nancy.kelsey@patch.com.