MCEC Press Archives
Killeen Daily Herald
September 30, 2003
Killeen High School Receives New Counseling Technology
By Jenifer Putnam
Killeeen Daily Herald, Killeen Texas
KILLEEN, TEXAS, Sept. 30, 2003 -- Moving to a new school just got easier.
Killeen High School on Monday received an Interactive Counseling Center, which allows students and their parents to videoconference with counselors at their new school. Representatives from the Harker Heights-based Military Child Education Coalition trained Killeen counselors on the program Monday.
The system includes a Dell central processing unit, a 17-inch flat-screen monitor, a combination scanner/printer/fax machine, a Web camera, stereo speakers, a keyboard, a mouse and a surge protector.
The secure videoconferencing system allows students to transmit their transcripts to be reviewed in real time by the counselor at the new school. Students can meet via video their counselors, coaches, band directors or other extracurricular organizers.
The coalition began installing ICCs in May 2002. So far, the coalition has installed 42 units and averages about two per month. Other local schools with the system are Shoemaker and Copperas Cove high schools. Units have been installed near military posts in 14 states and five overseas locations. Don Seeley, who has coordinated the installation effort, said the goal is to install at least one system in each military school district and ideally in each school near a military post.
The coalition installs units in each member school district. Membership costs $750. Coalition employees train counselors and maintain the system. Schools need only provide a room for the unit. School districts can buy as many additional units as needed.
The Fort Hood chapter of the Association of the United States Army bought the $5,000 unit for Killeen High. After spending 31 years in the Army, Chapter President Ralph Gauer said Monday that he could sympathize with military parents of school-age children and, therefore, supported the purchase. Gauer's son was a senior when the family arrived at Fort Hood in 1977. Only then did the family find out that the son's credits would not transfer and that he would have to overcome major road blocks to graduate. Gauer learned to be proactive with his next three children. "Each time you get smarter," Gauer said.
Still, when his daughter left the Killeen Independent School District for northern Virginia, she was enrolled in unchallenging classes for three weeks before she was reassigned. Gauer said he and his children could have avoided a lot of problems if the ICC technology had existed when he was in the service.
Kathy Ward, senior counselor at Shoemaker, said the program has helped several students since it was installed last spring. Specifically, students moving from Department of Defense schools overseas have benefited from knowing how their courses would transfer.
"It's really been helpful for the families," Ward said, adding that it would be more helpful if more schools had the system. Carolyn Taylor, senior counselor at Copperas Cove High School, said the system is easy to use and has reduced the stress of moving for some students.
Taylor said she would like to see more students use the program. She is including a notice about the program with the next set of report cards so parents can learn more about the system.
Besides students on the move, Seeley said the units also have been used by counselors moving to new school districts. Killeen High Principal Michael Sibberson hopes the system will smooth the transition for International Baccalaureate students at the school.
For more information, visit www.interactivecounselingcenter.org or www.MilitaryChild.Org.
