Heinz Field, Rivers donate smart boards to Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8

Students at Manchester PreK-8 in Pittsburgh started the school year on Monday even smarter.

Heinz Field, the Steelers and Rivers Casino Pittsburgh donated eight smart boards to the Pittsburgh public school.

The large electronic screens, linked to a computer and operated by touch or with a special pen, cost $5,000 each.

First-grade teacher Elizabeth Graves’ class was the first to use them.

“It’s another tool to help teach,” Graves said. “I am super excited to use it for small group learning and for students of all levels.”

It’s a technology-driven era, she said, and the students see smart boards as huge iPads.

“The kids are super excited to use it because it’s something that when they walk in the classroom they know what to do,” Graves said. “They have iPhones and iPads and computers. I think we will be able to do anything with these smart boards, anything I think about and more.”

The benefits to this technology are many, said Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent Anthony Hamlet. He said there are plans to add more to this school as well as others in the system.

“Children are exposed to so much technology at a young age and it is second nature to them,” he said. “They know how to use a smartphone at age 2 and 3.”

Superintendent @PghSuptHamlet welcomes students and families back for the 2019-2020 school year! The District theme for this year is Removing Barriers to Advancing Teaching and Learning. #PPSFirstDayhttps://t.co/fsjK4U7IED

— Pgh Public Schools (@PPSnews) August 26, 2019

The technology will complement the school’s recent investment of two mobile smart boards and 64 laptops to ensure students have access to the 21st-century tools needed to be successful in college, career and life, according to a press release.

“We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Rivers Casino Pittsburgh to donate the eight smart boards to Manchester K-8 on this venture,” said Jimmie Sacco, vice president of stadium operations and management for Heinz Field.

“Those students are some of the most important people in our North Side community, and we’re happy to help them further their education in any way,” Sacco said in a statement. “We thank the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Manchester K-8 for helping us pull this together and start off a great 2019 school year.”

Manchester alum Rahmon Hart, director of community relations at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, said it was an honor to assist the Steelers with the donation.

“As a former student there myself, positively impacting the school district means a lot to me,” he said. “It was an awesome morning for Rivers, the Steelers and, most importantly, the students.”