Jackson school board learns about digital video library

Members of the Jackson board of education were schooled in technology at their meeting Tuesday night. Junior high librarian Mary Pensel showed members the programs accessible to teachers through the Web site United Streaming, now available to all Jackson teachers. Previously it was only available to secondary teachers.

United Streaming is a digital video library with around 4,000 evaluated videos ranging in topics from science and history to health and social skills. The site also provides lesson plans, encyclopedias, prepared units, and question-and-answer quizzes at the end of videos. Teachers show the videos through LCD projectors.

Assistant superintendent Dr. Rita Fisher says the program allows teachers to bring topics to life for students. The junior high paid between $1,500 and $1,800 for the service last year, Pensel said.

The only action item on the agenda was the approval of the Special Education Assurance Statement, which passed unanimously. The statement says the district will comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Act.