The Edmonds School District is moving ahead with plans to purchase and install portable sound systems in its classrooms.

The School District Board of Directors gave its OK Tuesday to what has been described as Phase 1, where the District uses money from its Capital Bond to purchase Classroom Sound Systems.

The District’s new schools already include sound systems in their specs. In Phase 1, the District would purchase about 130 portable systems and would be able to use them this year as opposed to when the schools open.

“Students this year would get the benefit,” District Instructional Technology Manager Kim Mathey said.

In those schools that already have older sound systems, new sound systems would be purchased and the old systems would be distributed to other schools. Mathey said that there will be about 20 systems available to be redistributed. It’s likely those systems will go to primary schools in classrooms with younger children and ELL students. The new systems cost about $1,000 per classroom.

The District has received positive feedback from teachers who are currently using sound systems. Mathey indicated that teachers report behavior problems decrease, students are more on task and directions don’t need to be repeated as much.

The new sound systems use FM-type technology that works like an FM radio. Multiple systems can be used in a school with no interference in other classrooms, Mathey said. The old systems used infrared technology that required a line of sight.

“We’re buying the newest generation of technology,” Mathey said.

In other action:

– The Board honored 12 teachers, who recently were named National Board Certified Teachers. National Board Certification is voluntary and is performance-based, peer-reviewed and based on multiple measures. The 12 teachers are:

• Tory Amos, Westgate Elementary
• Abigail Espergard, Lynndale Elementary
• Christina Massey, Mountlake Terrace Elementary
• Renee Switzer, Alderwood Early Childhood Center
• Rebecca Biddick, Alderwood Middle School
• Patty Gloth, Mountlake Terrace Elementary
• Melissa Petersen, Speech Language Pathologist
• Jill Van Berkom, Meadowdale High School
• Jayme Darden, Cedar Valley Elementary
• Robin Larson, Terrace Park Elementary
• Donna Schou, Lynnwood High School
• Angela Zumbo-Krus, Brier Terrace Middle School

– The Board heard presentations from the architects of the new Alderwood Middle and Lynndale Elementary Schools. PDFs of the school’s site plans and schematics are available here.

– The Board unanimously approved the budget and call for bids for the roof replacement at Cedar Way Elementary; the budget and call for bids for the synthetic turf and track and lighting replacement at Edmonds District Stadium, the budget and bids for the former Woodway High School fields; and the project and budget for the installation of carpet at Martha Lake, Beverly and Westgate Elementary Schools.

– The Board also approved an agreement with Snohomish County for the acceptance of a grant funding the Edmonds School District Student Support Advocate Program. The County grant will continue to fund three intervention specialists, employed by the District to provide prevention and wellness services to middle and/or high school students identified as high risk for alcohol/other drug use or mental health issues.

– By David Pan