By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- Massena Central School officials want to move to computer-based testing and will use Smart Schools Bond Act aid to make that happen, Superintendent Patrick Brady said at Thursday’s school board meeting.

While outlining the district goals for the upcoming school year, he said they have $2 million that they will use to improve their internet connection to make that happen, he said.

“We just received approval after much work,” Brady told the board. “Our first focus is to improve our wi-fi, because we want to go to computer-based testing in our schools.”

He also wants to see instructors making more use of Google Chromebooks.

“That’s going to be a big focus of ours this year,” he said.

Also at the meeting, the board voted to accept a $7,390 donation from the Friends of Jefferson Elementary parent group specifically for the laptops.

Brady said other goals include “focusing on student attendance, parent engagement, graduation dropout rates and community schools … improving special education outcomes.”

He also mentioned moving toward a “community schools” model, and toward that end, the board on Thursday voted to hire Kristen Collarusso-Martin as a community schools site coordinator for $55,000 per year.

Her tasks will include linking students and their families with locally available resources that can help them.

Brady also said their goals for the year include “enhancing a positive school environment,” working on cultural sensitivity and working toward solving the mascot controversy.