A Seine River School Board trustee is hoping to increase the division’s iPad program for middle school students.

The discussion came up at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Seine River has an iPad program where all grade six to eight students have their own iPads which they can take home in the evening for homework. 

"The primary purpose of having the iPads was to increase engagement, to develop critical thinking and providing more opportunities for students to be creative and innovative," explains Superintendent Mike Borgfjord.

In previous years, some grade five students had access to iPads. Trustee Gary Nelson suggested on Tuesday that all grade five students should have iPads as well. Borgfjord says because they have so many split age classes in the division, it could pose some challenges.

"Especially with the 20k3, we have a lot of multi-age classrooms in our school division as a lot of school divisions have had because of the 20k3," says Borgfjord. "So many of our classrooms are 5-6, not all but about seventy percent of our grade five students are in a 5-6 class."

Borgfjord also points out that there are several grade 4-5 split classes as well. He adds the St. James School Division in Winnipeg also has a similar iPad program.

Borgfjord says the board will likely bring up the conversation at its upcoming budget planning sessions.