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COLUMBIANA - Columbiana Superintendent Ron Iarussi called the opening of the Dixon Early Learning Center significant for two reasons: reaching students earlier and reaching them better with increased technology.

"The expectations on children are a lot different than they were...they have to be better prepared," he said.

On Tuesday morning, the district celebrated the opening of its own pre-school and the establishment of the Dixon Early Learning Center, a school-within-the school to serve both the pre-school students ages 3 to 5 and the kindergarten classes at Joshua Dixon Elementary School.

Known as a community conversion school, the center didn't require any construction, but was formed using existing classrooms, with a grant from the Ohio Department of Education used to purchase equipment and technology consultant services. The $450,000 start up grant will be spread over three years for $150,000 each year.

The pre-school boasts an inclusionary environment, with the teacher also certified in the area of special education and students mixed together equally, seven with special needs and seven without. Pre-school classes kicked off Tuesday at a cost of $150 per month for half-day sessions and $275 per month for full-day sessions Monday through Friday.

About five years ago, Iarussi said the district started exploring the idea of pre-school. Having a pre-school creates an advantage for the district because officials become familiar with students and their needs earlier and can mold the curriculum so they'll be ready to face the expectations at the kindergarten level.

Work on the state grant began in January as an opportunity "to produce more resources for our children here in Columbiana," he said.

Iarussi said the district knew the offerings for students needed to be increased and the school was limited in its technology. He referred to adults as "digital

immigrants" and children as "digital natives" because they're growing up with the technology. Computer classes have to be offered earlier, not in junior high.

Gone are the days of chalkboards and banging erasers, too.

Grant money was used to purchase SMART boards for the kindergarten classrooms and for a new computer lab, with techology integrated into lesson plans. Jason Martin, Director of Technology and incoming president of the Columbiana Education Association, explained how SMART boards work, allowing a teacher or a student to "write" on the board and have the image appear simultaneously on computers in the lab or in the classroom and be saved.

Information can be placed on a Web site which parents or students can access. Teachers can get ideas for lesson plans from the SMART board web site. Teachers can also use a wireless board to write on while walking around a classroom with the image displayed on the SMART board and on students' computers.

Also attending the ribbon cutting and speaking during the ceremony were Dixon Early Learning Center Board of Directors Ginger Wilczak, Leah Wilson and Kim Sharshan, who serves as principal of Joshua Dixon Elementary School. State Sen. Jason Wilson, D-Columbiana, congratulated the community as a legislator and as a parent.

Ohio Department of Education Board member Deborah Cain praised the district for its vision.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net