More than 12-hundred people representing most of Iowa’s 340-some school districts will be gathering in Des Moines today (Wednesday) for the Iowa Association of School Boards convention. Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will attend the convention Thursday, from 7:30-a.m. to 9-p.m.

Association spokeswoman Tracy Bainter says this 69th annual convention will center on how the internet and various computer advances have changed the modern classroom.Bainter says, “We’re going to be focusing on all of the changes in technology and the opportunities that unlocks for students, staff and education leaders like school board members.”

Bainter says technology continues to evolve and so does the way students learn.  “We’re looking at being able to connect with students in their homes,” Bainter says. “For their homework, they’re able to connect with schools all around the country. If they’re doing a report on European history, they can connect with a museum in Europe to learn first-hand from historians.”

One of the convention speakers is a “futurist” who will be talking about a re-imagining of the entire concept of school, while there will be a range of workshops during the three-day event.  “We’re going to have some on technology, we’re going to have some on school finance, which is always an important issue for school board members,” Bainter says. “We’ll have a few on legislative issues that are coming up. We’re going to talk with working with a variety of personalities and creating a cohesive team on a school board.”

The convention runs through Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Learn more at www.ia-sb.org.

(Radio Iowa)