VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish School District purchased approximately 500 new laptops as part of a technology initiative to raise performance scores.

The computers will go to students in the district at an approximately 2-students-to-1-laptop ratio for kindergarten through fifth grade as a part of Zearn, a technology-based math curriculum.

Superintendent Whest Shirley said his goal is to raise the district’s score by two and a half points each year, and the new computers are a part of that effort.

Shirley said improving the district score will require raising end-of-course and ACT scores as well as meeting Louisiana’s LEAP 2025 assessment guide requirements.

The district score from 2016 is 77.9. Shirley said he hopes within a few years to have helped raise the school district to a B rating, which is an 85 score.

Starting students in technology-based or driven classes, Shirley said, will help them as they take state and local tests, which are now primarily given through a computer.

The computers were delivered to district schools Tuesday.

Some schools already met the ratio and required no further purchase, but Shirley said he would need more computers to meet the 2-1 ratio throughout the district.

Shirley said he hopes to acquire the remaining computers needed before Christmas this year.

Shirley said he also wants to start offering typing and computer classes to younger age groups.

“The state has all computerized testing,” Shirley said. “There’s no more pencil-and-paper tests. These kids need to know how to type.”

Shirley became superintendent in July, and on Sept. 14 he introduced his plan for improving district schools to the school board.

“My main goal is I want to grow the students, to grow our schools,” Shirley said.

Alongside the technology initiative, Shirley is introducing a “Rising Educators Club” that pays high-school seniors to work as paraprofessionals or teachers aids to lower elementary schools in the area.

This program was created in partnership with Louisiana State University at Alexandria.

Shirley said he hopes this program will not only raise test scores in lower elementary schools, but also draw more high school students to the teaching profession.

Shirley said he wanted to share his list of goals with the board and the public as an act of transparency and so parents and community members could get involved in the district’s progress.

“When you have a goal, you tell everybody because they’ll hold you accountable,” Shirley said. “I’m telling you my goals because I want you to help us reach our goals.”