Because technology has become an ever-growing part of education and everyday life, Dawson-Bryant High School will host a public forum to allow for input on the state’s technology standards that will be implemented into schools in 2004.

Carla Southers, assistant director of technology for the Ohio Department of Education and a Lawrence County native, will attend the session from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday in the multi-tiered room at the high school.

"We are looking forward to allowing rural Ohio an opportunity to comment," Dawson-Bryant Principal Brenda Haas said. "It is great that the state is allowing us to give our slice of input. At least, our voice will be heard."

Haas said she would like to invite everyone to attend and would like to get a wide variety of educators, parents and business and community leaders.

To help meet these state standards as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, urban schools across the state have been conducting focus groups and this gives Dawson-Bryant a chance to provide a rural perspective, Haas said.

"I think these technology standards will decide what the schools and work force of tomorrow will look like," Haas said. "Technology tomorrow will not look like the technology of today. This will help in making a better community of learners."

Haas served on the Technology Academic Content Standards Advisory Team that originally met in November of 2001. A 300-page rough draft is available on the Ohio Department of Education's Web site.