KINDERHOOK –The school board accepted resignation of High School Principal William Schneider Tuesday evening. He is retiring after 27 years in the district.

School Superintendent George Zini said he hoped to announce Mr. Schneider’s replacement at the board’s June 3 meeting. He said he wanted to have someone in the job by July 1.

As for Mr. Schneider, Mr. Zini and Board President Anthony Welcome praised his commitment and dedication to the school. Mr. Welcome said that Mr. Schneider always “fought for what was best for the high school.”

At its May 6 meeting the board also discussed a district technology report. The district has spent $1.2 million of the most recent capital improvement project on upgrading technology, including new network servers, fiber cable, and wireless access throughout the district’s buildings. The project also funded the replacement of computers that were over 10 years old, Mr. Zini said.

Teachers and administrators were given iPads to use last year, and Mr. Zini said that after doing a survey of teachers, about 39% reported using their iPad three to five days a week for teaching. He said that the staff was offered training on how to use many of the new technologies, which include new projectors, but he felt the problem was that Internet connections were interrupted due to infrastructure issues.

“People aren’t using them because they aren’t working well,” he said of the new technology. He said that the district has been working on improvements. “Bringing in this much technology is not without its bumps and hiccups,” he told the board, but said the problems would be worked out by the next school year.

Mr. Zini said the next plan for technology is to give students iPads for school work. He said the administration is looking at funding iPads for all high school students in the 2015-16 school year and middle school students in 2016-17. For the Primary and Elementary schools, there would be iPads on carts for the students to use but not to take home.

He said the district would offer more training for teachers on iPads, though he did say they even if they were not using the iPads for teaching, the staff is using them for attendance and grading.

Also at the meeting the board:

•Accepted a bid from Hoosick Valley Construction for window upgrades on the High School and Middle School for $553,000. This is part of the $7-million capital project that was approved two years ago

•Heard a report from the Audit Committee that due to the positive Moody’s rating the district received, the refinancing of several loans will save the district $10,000 more than expected. The district will save $104,000 over the next 7 years

•Announced that the annual budget vote and elections will be held on May 20 in the High School Auditorium from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mr. Zini started the meeting saying that the $35-million budget proposition comes with a 2% tax levy increase, which is the “lowest we’ve had in over 15 years.”

The next board meeting will be a budget hearing on Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium.

To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email .