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On Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, the instructional staff of San Saba High School had a vision that will transform the delivery of instruction. On these dates the teaching staff received training to utilize a Mac/Apple laptop and accompanying software to enhance the delivery of instruction. The staff was provided these laptops through the Vision 2020 Grant in the amount of $459,198. The grant will provide a series of trainings or professional development opportunities so that teachers will be totally immersed in the use of the laptop prior to students receiving a laptop. Each student in grades 9-12 will be issued a laptop to use in their daily work and to use at home throughout their enrollment in San Saba High School. Over the coming year and in to 2011, the high school staff and students will receive numerous technology upgrades including, wireless access, smartboards, iPods, laptops, document cameras, and projectors.

San Saba Middle School teachers are the recipients of a different technology grant called the T3 Grant – Target Tech in Texas Grant. This grant will provide laptops to all teachers as well as two mobile carts that can be used as mobile computer labs. Thirty-two computers are housed on each of the two mobile carts. The middle school staff will receive their Macs on November 23rd, when they too will be in a two day training. The T3 Grant is a shared service arrangement(SSA)/grant totaling $965,000 of which San Saba Middle School receives products and services totaling approximately $223,577. Non-direct services are provided by the SSA of whom the partners are Brownwood ISD, Mason ISD, Ballinger ISD and San Saba ISD.

San Saba Elementary teachers will receive new laptops on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Document cameras, projectors and carts are provided through stimulus funding. It is the goal of the District to ultimately provide smartboards on all campuses to further enhance the delivery of instruction. The technology is not a magic pill that automatically improves the performance of students, but it does provide another means to reach students on a different level. On some days, plain old paper and pencil will be the norm, and others, the computer will help enhance the delivery of instruction. The most important component in improving student learning is the teacher in the classroom. It is the goal of the District to provide all the tools necessary to support the teacher who makes things happen in the classroom each and every day.

All staff will be provided technology training on January 4, 2010 prior to welcoming students back for the second half of the school year.