Bond Oversight Committee meets to review bond progress, participates in technology demonstration

CBOC members tour Duff Elementary

April 10, 2018 - The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee met last night for its quarterly review of the status and progress of the 2014 Bond program. AISD Chief Financial Officer Cindy Powell gave updates on the various areas of the bond: fine arts; safety, security and technology; transportation; and facilities. (The presentation was similar to her bond update at the April 5, 2018, Board meeting.)

See the meeting materials.

The meeting was held at Duff Elementary and included a tour of the school's recently-completed bond-funded renovations. Duff Principal Cynthia Harbison and AISD Director of Facilities Kelly Horn showed the committee members the new STEM labs, strings room, music room and front-entrance security vestibule, along with the new parking lot and driveway, landscaping and sidewalks. They also pointed out that Duff received new roofing and new ceiling grid and tiles.

In addition to the tour, the committee was given a demonstration of some of the technology purchased with the bond. Elita Driskill, AISD director of instructional technology, led the demonstration and divided the committee members into groups of four. Each group then worked together to solve a social studies game on a Breakout EDU box.

The Breakout EDU boxes, which were purchased with bond money, are like escape rooms, but in reverse. Students try to break into the boxes. They include a series of locks that can only be opened when the students discover the answers to problems or questions.

In the example game at the CBOC meeting, the committee members had to find the answers to several questions about the American Revolution, which gave them the words and numbers needed to open the locks. The game was timed and the participants had to use iPads and Chromebooks - also purchased with the bond - to solve the questions and clues. Once they broke into the box, and then unlocked the smaller box inside, they found tea (to go along with questions about the Boston Tea Party).

CBOC members participate in technology demonstration

Driskill explained that the Breakout EDU box activities help teach students the "Four Cs": communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. With those skills, along with flexible technology skills, students can succeed in any discipline and then later in the workforce.