By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Classrooms at Creek View Elementary School will be outfitted with some of the newest teaching tools available, after State Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, surprised the teachers during an Oct. 4 faculty meeting.

During the faculty meeting, Ward presented the school with a $35,000 Public School and College Authority grant, which will be used to purchase 40 ELMO projector units for Creek View teachers.

“(Creek View Principal) Mrs. (Joyce) Dixon and I have been working on this project over the past few months,” Ward told the teachers. “We have been working hard, and we were able to secure some good grant money.

“We are going to be able to get 40 new ELMOs for you guys,” Ward added, as the teachers gave him a standing ovation.

An ELMO is a sort of digital overhead projector capable of projecting images of textbooks, worksheets, notes and any other type of document to a screen or wall. The ELMO is also capable of connecting to and projecting images from a computer, TV or any other type of electronic device.

“(Ward) has always been there when we needed his assistance, and has been a real friend to us at Creek View,” Dixon said.

The ELMO projectors will help the school better connect with their students and teach more effectively, Ward said.

“It is impossible to provide children with a 21st-century education and not have adequate classroom technology,” Ward said.

“The Creek View Elementary faculty and staff do an outstanding job building a better education for their students, but they deserve more tools to help them make this a reality,” he added.

Because teachers across Alabama have been affected by state education budget cuts, the grant likely will help Creek View teachers save personal money they may have spent on an ELMO projector, Ward said.

“I know you are always struggling. I know it’s very tough for you guys dealing with state budget cuts,” Ward told the teachers. “I really do hope this helps you guys out for the rest of the year.

“In light of recent state budget cuts to school technology, I think this was a needed addition to Creek View’s education infrastructure,” Ward added.

During the presentation, Ward praised the teachers, and thanked them for doing a “wonderful job.”

“I have a lot of respect for the work done by our teachers on a day-to-day basis,” Ward said. “I just wanted to thank you guys for doing such a wonderful job.

“I want you all to know how much I appreciate you guys,” Ward added.