Iron Springs Elementary Principal Deon Goshorn told the group that the school is getting nine Smart Boards for fall. Training will be in August for her teachers. "They are not at all afraid of technology," she said. "The biggest problem is finding professional development."

Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-Lehi, said educators need to think outside the box when it comes to technology funding and access. "Why not take advantage of all the computers that are sitting in our homes?" Sumsion said.

This idea didn't sit well with Charlene Lui, chairwoman of the Coalition of Minorities Advisory Committee, who was in the audience at the meeting. "That's assuming the home even has a computer," said Lui, in an interview with the Deseret News following the meeting. She is also the director of educational equity for Granite School District.

Sumsion, in an interview after the meeting, said that junior high and high school students could even spend one day a week doing classwork online at home. "I recognize not every kid has a computer at home," he said. "But we know the vast majority of kids do have computers sitting at home. Let's use that resource."

Lui pointed out that even if the family does have a computer, in some homes both parents are working and they wouldn't be home to supervise the child on the computer. "We're looking at equity," she said. "If we're going to require this, then we need to be able to provide the means and the access."

During the meeting, Rep. Tim Cosgrove, D-Murray, said parents need to step up to the plate. "The buy-in needs to extend past our teachers, past our schools," he said. "We need to get parents involved in being part of the solution."

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