By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — Hoover City Schools officials termed the school system’s commitment to technology in classrooms as an “investment” for the future while speaking to the Hoover Rotary Club Aug. 8.

Hoover Superintendent Andy Craig and Assistant Superintendent Carol Barber spoke about a pilot program that is putting Nook e-readers and iPads into the hands of Hoover students throughout the school system. He said more than 1,000 students will have access to Nooks or iPads this fall.

Craig said the program can help kids learn in new, progressive ways.

“We just think the potential there is enormous,” Craig said.

He said he was amazed by his time spent watching a teacher at Green Valley Elementary use tablets as learning tools for her students. Green Valley was one of the first schools in the pilot program.

“She was truly personalizing learning for kids,” he said.

In response to a question from the audience about how school authorities will ensure the devices are used appropriately, Barber said educators will make parents and students aware of responsibility issues.

She said while the school system is prepared to deal with potential inappropriate use, educators do expect students to be responsible and view the program as a learning opportunity toward that end.

The program could be expanded to all Hoover schools by fall 2013 if all goes as planned, according to previous reports.