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By JENNIFER L. HENN; Times Leader Staff Writer
Thursday, August 13, 1998     Page: 14B

You can take a peek inside a classroom, steal some jokes, learn your alma
mater and get your homework even when you’re at home sick.
   
OK, so maybe they’re not the coolest Web sites out there. Some of the
information is old and they often lack music or animation. But you have to
give several local school districts credit for trying.
    “There’s no feet dragging going on here,” said Charlotte Kordek, technology
administrator for the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. “Our Web sites are
changing every day and we’re working hard on making them the best. It’s a new
era in education.”
   
At least 11 area school districts have sites on the Internet. They range
from static, black-and-white informational pages to sites full of color,
pictures and unique touches.
   
For example, the Lake-Lehman High School Web site offers Net surfers a look
into the school’s computer lab- a real look. The live KnightCam snaps photos
of the classroom every 15 minutes during the school year and posts those
pictures on the Web site.
   
This time of year, all that can be found is a shot of the still room,
chairs tucked neatly under desks. Once classes begin, however, a periodic
check might provide insight into the world of high school computer class- note
passing and all.
   
Hanover Area’s Web site designer, Ronald Pryor, has been working on a new
version of the district’s page for more than a year. The new Web site is
expected to launch this fall and will offer students access to assignments
that can be completed and checked online.
   
Complete with a color picture of the school and a crooked, black-and-white,
hand-drawn map of West Pittston, Wyoming Area’s Montgomery Avenue Elementary
School maintains its own Web site.
   
When the page loads on a computer, the viewer is faced with a gray and
white version of the district’s official seal and the chance to review the
alma mater. Links to educational sites, such as the NASA Spacelink, National
Weather Service and the periodic table, are also featured.
   
The Wyoming Valley West Web page pays special attention to the district’s
administration and board of education, including the information on the
current budget, taxes and revenue sources.
   
On the lighter side, the site links to the Main Street Elementary School
home page. There, a surfer can “visit a classroom” to see teacher pictures,
check out PTO happenings and get a chuckle out of a jokes page, very suitable
for youngsters.
   
Wilkes-Barre Area has not one, but two Web sites. The first was launched in
April 1995 and has lots of outdated information, including listing
Superintendent Thomas J. Rushton, who was actually replaced by then-Assistant
Superintendent Jeff Namey in July 1996.
   
The newer site is under construction and Kordek thinks it will be ready
this fall. The reincarnation will allow teachers and students to post items
like schedules, curriculum, assignments and homework on designated pages.
   
Even rural Northwest Area has a Web site, and a pretty impressive one at
that. Although some of the information is old- the superintendent is listed as
Carl Martin, not Gerald Bau- the page includes color photographs and a good
deal of general information and background.
   
Other area schools with We