Baird wins award for debt-for-iPads scheme

We've covered the EUSD iPads saga many times before:

EUSD to use 30-year debt to buy iPads that will be obsolete in 5 years or broken in 2

Five iPads stolen in most telegraphed theft in history

Encinitas schoolkids get porn on iPads

LA Times: iPads in education are a gimmick and a racket

More porn on iPads in class at Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary

From the Inbox:

This is why we have iPads in ENC schools - to win administrators resume padding awards. At least someone is benefiting from this monumental waste of money.

92024 Magazine:

Two Encinitas residents were recognized by the foundation as being at the forefront in the movement of technology-based education. Encinitas School District (EUSD) Superintendent Timothy Baird received the SDG&E Innovative Superintendent Award for his ongoing commitment to innovative learning programs. He recently implemented the one-to-one digital learning program for all students in Encinitas, which resulted in high student achievement.

No details on what that "high student achievement" means.

In related news, EUSD is canceling the idiotic $189,000 facial recognition login software contract.

More Porn on iPads in class at Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary

The long and sordid saga of Tim Baird's iPad adventures continues.

From the Inbox:

Thought you might be interested in this letter that we received today from the EUSD. I already had the following objections to iPads in the school:

1. Gadgets that will be obsolete in 2 years purchased with 30 year bond money;
2. No evidence that these devices actually improve learning; lots of evidence that they are a distraction and detract from learning;
3. Privacy issues (facial recognition software)
4. Kids losing them all the time; parents have to stress about paying to replace something that they did not want their kids to have in the first place
5. Porn being shown in the class room

These iPads, like many of the other expensive useless projects of Baird, are designed to earn Baird and the district honors and awards that pad their resumes leading to bigger and better jobs in the future. And we are stuck with the costs.

And here's the letter from the district psychologist to parents whose children were exposed to porn during class.

This is not the first time EUSD schoolchildren have been caught using their iPads for porn.

Pacific View sale to continue

10 News:

The auction of the old Pacific View Elementary site is moving forward despite protests at Tuesday's school board meeting.

Nearly 100 people attended the Encinitas Union School District's board meeting in an attempt to convince the trustees to postpone or stop the auction of the property. The opponents of the auction asked district leaders to keep the space public.

"This was a gift from the public, by the community to the school district and it's time for the school district to reciprocate," said a speaker.

[...]

The trustees told the group to share their concerns at Wednesday night's City Council meeting. The auction is planned for Tuesday, Mar. 25 at a minimum bid of $9.5 million.