It’s been seven weeks since the new Montezuma-Cortez High School opened its doors, but teachers and students remain disconnected from some of its state-of-the-art technology.
High school junior Samantha Bagge provided the Re-1 school board with a short list of glitches experienced by teachers and students inside the nearly $34 million facility.
“A lot of the technology is still down,” Bagge, a student representative, said during Tuesday’s board meeting.
Bagge said students can’t connect to the Internet on the school’s Wi-Fi system, and the lesson-capture system has bugs.
“The smart projectors remain down,” she said.
Days before 152,500-square-foot building opened on Aug. 26, principal Jason Wayman touted its technology, telling The Journal on a tour that the digital possibilities were unimaginable.
Each classroom has a version of FrontRow software, which enables teachers to record lessons in real time. The lessons can then be uploaded to the Internet and viewed later on a computer or smartphone.
Attempts to reach Wayman for an explanation about the glitches and possible remedies were unsuccessful.
Bagge also said that students were frustrated because they lack adequate locker space and that teachers and students don’t have time to eat because of mandatory study halls during the lunch period.
Board member Sherri Wright said parents have raised the lunch problem with her.
“This needs to be addressed,” said Wright.
Superintendent Alex Carter assured board members that high school officials would address all the student and teacher complaints.
“It’s a new school,” Carter said. “They are trying to learn how to live in it.”
Bagge first raised the technology, locker and lunch concerns in September.
“I hope we get a little more communication between the students and the school board,” Bagge said at last month’s board meeting.
