By Donna M. Perry,Staff Writer

JAY – A third technology proposal has been introduced into the mix for the next school year.

Jay School Committee members are scheduled to consider the options at their April 7 meeting.

All three proposals would be covered by the proposed $10.5 million school spending package, with some adjustments of software purchases and other items, for the 2005-06 school year, Superintendent Robert Wall said Friday.

First, Wall introduced a technology proposal that would have eliminated two computer teaching positions at the high and middle schools, but add a technology coordinator, a repair specialist and an education technician. That proposal would included middle school and high school teachers integrating technology into their teaching.

Then, Technology Committee members offered a counterproposal that wouldn’t cut staff, but would reconfigure some duties, support classroom teachers and maintain the computers.

The third proposal introduced Thursday night, Wall said, is a modification of his proposal based on input from the Technology Committee, building principals and others, which builds in a comprehensive-education component.

The new option would eliminate three positions and create two positions, he said. The two computer teaching positions and education technician would be eliminated.

The IT coordinator and repair technician position would remain and the two new positions created would be technology- and content-integration teachers. One of the latter would serve kindergarten through grade four and the other would serve fifth through 12th grade.

Wall said he could only “guesstimate” Friday that the third option introduced would cost about $35,000 more than his initial plan.