>>> THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD HAS PICKED A HOST HOTEL DEVELOPER AND SITE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

WE WILL TALK TO THE HEAD OF THE C.I.B.

TO FIND OUT WHAT IS NEXT.

>>> WITH A NEW SCHOOL YEAR JUST WEEKS AWAY, WE SPOKE WITH PARENTS AND HOW iPADS IN SCHOOLS.

AND THE BLOOMINGTON ANIMAL SHELTER HAS MORE DOGS THAN IT CAN HANDLE AS SURRENDERS INCREASE AND FOSTER OPTIONS DECREASE IN THE SUMMER.

WE WILL HAVE THESE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

"INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD THIS WEEK APPROVED DORA LOUDERBACK OVER M.H.G.

HOTELS AS THE HOTELS.

DORA WAS INITIALLY RECOMMENDED.

THIS TIME THE C.I.B.

INCLUDED LAND PARCELS IT RECEIVED EARLIER THIS YEAR FROM THE COUNTY AND CITY INTO THE DEAL.

THE PROPOSAL INCLUDED 200 GUEST ROOMS, A FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT, ROOF TOP BAR, FITNESS CENTER, MEETING SPACE AND A LOWER LEVEL WITH 250 PARKING SPACES.

WELL, WE ARE JOINED BY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD PRESIDENT, JOHN WHIKEHART FOR MORE ON THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.

THANKS, JOHN, FOR BEING HERE.

WHY DID DORA LOUDERBACK GOT THE NOD.

>> WE BEGAN THE SECOND REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS IN APRIL.

WE HAD FIVE HOTEL DEVELOPERS SUBMIT PROPOSALS.

WE NARROWED THOSE FIVE DOWN TO THREE IN A PRETTY QUICK PROCESS.

SO THEIR PROPOSALS WERE DUE JUNE 30th.

WE MET JULY 1st, NARROWED IT DOWN TO TWO.

WE INTERVIEWED THOSE TWO IN A PUBLIC MEETING.

JULY 8th HOTEL ROW VALUATION COMMITTEE MET AND WE CAME BACK ON THE 14th WITH A RECOMMENDATION.

THE RFP SAID WE HAD SEVERAL THINGS, 200 GUEST ROOMS AND THEY NEEDED TO RESPOND TO PARKING NEEDS, FULL SERVICE HOTEL, BAR, WELLNESS, AND DORA CAME BACK WITH QUITE A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL THAN THEIR SUBMISSION TWO YEARS AGO.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, THE BUNGER ROBERTSON SITE WAS A BETTER OPTION.

THE OPTIONS WERE DIFFERENT TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY CAME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL THAT DIDN'T JUST MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS BUT WENT BEYOND IT.

IT WAS A NEW DESIGN, A DESIGN THAT WAS COMPLEMENTARY OF BLOOMINGTON AND THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC THAT THEY WANTED TO BILL ON THE SOUTH PARCELS THAT THOSE WERE -- THAT WAS THEIR PREFERRED LOCATION.

IT'S MUCH MORE WALKABLE LOCATION THAN THE OTHER SITE WAS.

AND WE WERE -- WE WERE VERY INSPIRED AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY, WE BELIEVE, TO TRANSFORM THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR DOWNTOWN IN MOVEMENTS SOUTH WITH A BEAUTIFUL NEW HOTEL WITH AN EXCITING PARTNER.

SO THEY WERE SELECTED.

IT WAS FRANKLY A NO-BRAINER FOR US.

>> SO COLLEGE AVENUE CLOSED AGAIN BUT OPENS ON SCHEDULE IN ABOUT A WEEK.

IS THE CONSTRUCTION ON BUDGET, ON TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY ON BUDGET AND ON TIME.

WE REOPEN THE 24th OF JULY, WHICH IS A WEEK FROM TODAY.

AND EVERYTHING IS -- I'M AMAZED EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY MY SITE.

I DON'T GET A CHANCE TO DRIVE BY, BUT EVERY DAY I DO DRIVE BY, I'M AMAZED AT WHAT I SEE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAND SWAP WITH SEMINARY APPOINTMENTS AND THE C.I.B.

AND THE HOST HOTEL.

I WANT TO PLAY A CLIP ABOUT MAYOR KERRY THOMSON ABOUT THAT AND GET YOUR REACTION.

>> SEMINARY POINTE IS NOT IN OUR OWNERSHIP.

WHILE I LAID OUT PATHWAYS TO GET SOME OF THOSE UNITS PRESERVED WHICH, OF COURSE, IS A PRIORITY, THE C.I.B.

-- IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED.

>> WAS THE C.I.B.

NOT INTERESTED?

>> NOT INTERESTED IN PRESERVING THE APARTMENTS OR NOT INTERESTED IN THE LAND EXCHANGE?

>> THE LAND EXCHANGE.

>> WELL, THE -- THERE'S NO NEED FOR LAND EXCHANGE NOW.

WE ALREADY MADE A DECISION ON THE HOTEL.

WE ALREADY MADE A DECISION ON THE LOCATION.

THE MAYOR KNOWS VERY WELL HOW OFTEN I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PURSUE A DISCUSSION ABOUT A LAND EXCHANGE BEFORE WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE OPENED AN RFP AND THEY OPENED THEIR PUBLIC OFFERING.

I MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THAT EXCHANGE.

MY LAST ATTEMPT WAS IN MARCH WHEN SHE ONCE AGAIN VERY EMPHATICALLY TOLD ME SHE HAD NO INTEREST IN A LAND EXCHANGE.

SO SINCE THAT TIME, WE WENT TO THE -- WE FOLLOWED THAT UP GOING TO THE RDC, ASKED THEM AGAIN IF THEY WOULD PAUSE IN APRIL AND THEY DESIGNED TO DO THAT.

WE MOVED AHEAD, THEY MOVED AHEAD, AND SO TO SUGGEST THAT WE WERE NOT INTERESTED IS A -- IS NOT ACCURATE.

THE MAYOR AND I BOTH KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I ATTEMPTED TO TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT AND SHE DECLINED ANY INTEREST IN IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

JOHN, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WELL, RENOVATING THE EXISTING MONROE COUNTY JAIL AND INCORPORATING THE CURRY BUILDING IN THE TOP CHOICE OF COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE PROJECT WORKING SUBCOMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN TASKED WITH COMING UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A NEW JAIL SITE, AFTER THE CURRENT ONE WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN A LAWSUIT NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO.

AND IT COMES AFTER PLANS FOR A NEW JAIL AT NORTH PARK WERE ABANDONED LAST MONTH BECAUSE OF COST AND THE FACT IT WASN'T IN THE CITY.

>> IF WE CHOOSE TO BUILD IN THE CITY, WE ARE CHOOSING FOR THERE TO BE INFLATION AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

WE'RE CHOOSING FOR RE-INVESTMENT AND RE-DESIGN, COST OF NEW SITE EVALUATIONS AND PREPARATION, LITIGATION AND FEES OR ATTORNEY FEES.

THE LONGER THE LAWSUIT CONTINUES, AT SOME POINT IT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE COMMITTEE LISTED THE THOMSON PROPERTY OFF SOUTH ROGERS STREET WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED AS ITS SECOND CHOICE.

THAT PROPERTY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TOP CHOICE, BUT THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT MOVING EXISTING POWER LINES THERE WOULD DELAY DEVELOPMENT.

>> IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING THAT THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A NEW JAIL, AND YET INTEGRAL INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED HAVE NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

>>> TWO DETAINEES AT THE JAIL SUED THE COUNTY LAST FRIDAY OVER CAN CONDITIONS AT THE FACILITY.

THEY ALLEGE OVERCROWDING AND OTHER UNSAFE CONDITIONS.

WE ARE JOINED BY ELYSE PERRY WITH MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE.

>>> HELLO, ELYSE.

>> HELLO, JOE.

GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN ANNOUNCED HE WOULD END SOME OF THE STATE'S GOAL OF THE GIVING CONTRACTS TO WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

SINCE 1983, STATE HAS HAD GOALS TO AWARD WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CONTRACTS EVERY YEAR, BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD ROKITA SAYS THAT LAW WAS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST CAUCASIANS.

>> IT WON'T IMPACT ANY CONTRACT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN MACE.

IT'S JUST GETTING US IN PLACE TO WHERE WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE HANDY CANNED BY SOMETHING THAT GOT CONFUSING AND NO LONGER PROBABLY HAD CURRENCY.

>>> DEMOCRATS HAVE OPPOSED THE MOVE AND QUESTION WHETHER THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO UNDO PROGRAMS WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.

>>> A NATIONWIDE BLOOD SHORTAGE IS LEAVING HOSPITALS IN NEED OF 3500 MORE UNITS OF BLOOD EACH WEEK THAN EXPECTED.

THE RED CROSS SAID EVERY BLOOD TYPE IS NEEDED BUT TYPES O AND B ARE IN PARTICULARLY HIGH DEMAND RIGHT NOW.

AND THE SHORTAGE COMES AT A TIME WHEN DONATIONS TYPICALLY DECREASE DUE TO SUMMER TRAVEL.

>> SUMMER TENDS TO LEAD TO MORE ACCIDENTS AND MORE ISSUES THAT REQUIRE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.

SO WE NORMALLY SEE THE DEMAND GO UP IN SUMMER.

>>> THE RED CROSS IS HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE THIS WEEKEND AT IVY TECH IN BLOOMINGTON.

INFORMATION ON DONATING IS AVAILABLE ON THE RED CROSS WEBSITE.

>>> A BLOOMINGTON ARTIST IS USING A CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ARTS PROJECT GRANT TO REVIVE A CENTURY'S OLD STORYTELLING TRADITION.

REPORT DAIN JUNG LEARNED WHAT A CRANKIE IS.

>> THE CRANKIE FESTIVAL STARTS THIS SPRING.

>> IT'S A REALLY OLD WAY OF STORYTELLING THAT WAS INSPIRED BY SCROLL PAINTINGS IN JAPAN AND THEN MOVED ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

AND IN EUROPE, BECAME MORE LIKE MOVING PANORAMA PICTURES.

>> THE FIRST ONE I MADE FOR ANY THESIS, IT WAS, I THINK, 16 FEET.

>> CRANKIES USE ILLUSTRATED SCROLL MOVE THROUGH A BOX WHILE PERFORMERS SELL A STORY THROUGH MUSIC OR NARRATION OR PERFORMANCE.

>> I'M SURPRISED THERE'S NOT A CRANKIE FESTIVAL IN BLOOMINGTON, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH THE ENERGY.

SO I WAS LIKE, I'M GONNA START ONE.

>> AFTER RETURNING TO BLOOMINGTON, SHE DECIDED TO LAUNCH THE FIRST CRANKIE FESTIVAL WHICH DREW ABOUT 70 PEOPLE.

NOW, SHE IS PREPARING THE SECOND CRANKIE FESTIVAL IN BLOOMINGTON NEXT APRIL, WITH A GRANT FROM THE BLOOMINGTON ARTS COMMISSION.

>> I HOPE IT JUST GIVES PEOPLE SPACE TO MAKE STORIES, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ESPECIALLY DOING WORKSHOPS WITH KIDS THEY DON'T THINK THEY CAN MAKE STORIES, BUT THEY CAN IF THEY'RE JUST GIVEN OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE FUNDING WILL HELP EXPAND THE FESTIVAL, PAY PERFORMERS AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M DAIN JUNG.

>>> A LOCAL FILM COMPANY SAYS MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP TO APPEAR AS EXTRAS IN AN UPCOMING FILM INSPIRED BY THE I.U.

LITTLE 500.

PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP TO BE EXTRAS THROUGH THE LINK IN PEGASUS PICTURES INSTAGRAM BIO.

>> WE WANT TO GIVE THAT EXPERIENCE TO REAL PEOPLE SO THAT THEY HAVE THAT STORY TO SHARE WITH THEIR KIDS ONE DAY OR THEIR GRANDKIDS.

>> AND JOE, FILMING STARTS SUNDAY AND GOES THROUGH AUGUST 12th IN BLOOMINGTON.

SEVERAL DOWNTOWN STREETS WILL BE BLOCKED OFF AT TIMES DURING FILMING.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE WOMEN ARE NOW GETTING THEIR VERSION OF "BREAKING AWAY."

THANKS SO MUCH ELYSE.

>>> COMING UP NEXT ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," AS A NEW SCHOOL YEAR APPROACHES, PARENTS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT HOW iPADS ARE BEING USED IN THE CLASSROOM.

>>> AND THE BLOOMINGTON ANIMAL SHELTER HAS ALMOST TWICE THE USUAL AMOUNT OF DOGS AS PET SURRENDERS INCREASE IN THE SUMMER.

>>> THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

ON THIS WEEK'S ASK THE MAYOR PROGRAM, I SAT DOWN WITH BLOOMINGTON'S KERRY THOMSON.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, BUT WE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF VIEWER QUESTIONS FOR HER.

NOW, SANDY EMAILED IN, WANTED TO KNOW WHAT BLOOMINGTON IS DOING TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OLDER FOLKS AND THE WORKFORCE.

>> YES, SO DO WATCH OUR HOPEWELL DEVELOPMENT.

THAT IS GONNA BE REALLY CRITICAL, AND I WAS KNOCKING DOORS LAST WEEK AND HEARD FROM SOMEONE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD INCOME QUALIFY FOR HOPEWELL.

HOPEWELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE INCOME QUALIFIED.

ONLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A SUBSIDY.

THE HOMES ARE AFFORDABLE, AND THEY ARE AFFORDABLE AT MANY DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S A REQUIREMENT, UNLESS YOU'RE GETTING SOME KIND OF SUBSIDY.

SO THOSE WHO ARE WANTING TO AGE HERE IN BLOOMINGTON IN A CONVENTIONAL HOME, DO LOOK AT HOPEWELL.

>>> ALONG THOSE LINES, DAWN WANTED TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS THE INCREDIBLY UGLY AND FACE-CHANGING APARTMENT BUILDING EXPLOSION.

HE SAYS BLOOMINGTON NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE BLOOMINGTON.

>> I AGREE.

SOME OF THESE APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CURRENT U.D.O.

REALLY SOMETIMES ALLOWS THINGS THAT WE NEVER WANTED TO BE BUILT, AND PREVENTS THINGS THAT WE DO WANT FROM BEING BUILT.

AND SO PAY ATTENTION TO THE U.D.O.

CHANGES.

TALK TO COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WANT TO SEE AND OVERALL MY COMMENT ON THIS IS THAT WE SHOULD REALLY GET TO A PLACE THAT MAYBE MORE LIKE A FORM-BASED CODE THAT MAKE IT EASY TO BUILD GOOD THINGS AND HARD TO BUILD BAD THINGS.

>> AND WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE KIRKWOOD AS AN INTEREST TO VIEWERS.

THIS YEAR IT WILL BE OPEN TO TRAFFIC BUT THE CITY IS CONTINUING TO STUDY HOW BEST TO PROCEED.

>> SO BLOOMINGTON -- I HELD A LISTENING SESSION.

WE GOT A LOT OF INPUT IT.

ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTIVITIES THAT I HAVE DONE AS MAYOR, AND THIS IS WHY, PEOPLE CAME AND THEY ACTUALLY LISTENED TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND AT THE END OF THAT SESSION, WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, I CAME REALLY SET ON THIS OUTCOME.

I NOW SEE IT'S MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST DELIVERING THIS OUTCOME.

THERE'S AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF PLANNING AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO INVEST A LOT OF MONEY IF WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH KIRKWOOD, AND WE HAVE A CORRIDOR STUDY PLANNED FOR KIRKWOOD THAT'S COMING UP YET THIS YEAR.

AND SO WE WILL -- WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT IT, AND KIRKWOOD WILL BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY.

>>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO MY ENTIRE CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR THOMSON ALONG WITH PREVIOUS ASK THE MAYORS TERRE HAUTE'S BRANDON SAKBUN ON WTIUNEWS.ORG.

>>> SOME PARENTS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HOW iPADS ARE BEING USED IN THE CLASSROOM AND ARE ASKING SCHOOL CORPORATIONS TO RECONSIDER THE USE OF THOSE DEVICES.

REPORTER ISABELLA VESPERINI SPOKE WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO LEARN MORE.

>> WHEN ADAM QUIRK'S DAUGHTER AND SON WERE IN PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, THEY RECEIVED iPADS TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM.

HE WASN'T SURE THE iPADS HELPED THEM LEARN ANYTHING.

>> IT WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND GAMES AND STUFF, AND SO, YEAH, THAT WAS ANOTHER THING.

WE -- IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MORE OF A TOOL OF DISTRACTION FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THAN FOCUS.

>> WHEN HE SAW HOW MUCH TIME HIS CHILDREN WERE SPENDING IN FRONT OF SCREENS IN SCHOOL, HE TRANSFERRED THEM TO A CHARTER SCHOOL IN ELLETTSVILLE.

>> WE REALIZED THEY WERE SPENDING MORE TIME LOOKING AT SCREENS THAN THEY WERE AT BOOKS OR TEACHERS OR OTHER KIDS.

SO THAT WAS SORT OF THE CATALYST FOR US LOOKING ELSEWHERE.

>> IN THE FIVE YEARS SAT SEVEN OAKS THEY HAVE NOT USED iPADS AT ALL IN THE CLASSROOM.

AS A RESULT, HE THINKS THEIR FOCUS HAS IMPROVED.

>> SCHOOL IS JUST A PLACE WHERE I DON'T THINK YOU NEED SCREENS.

YOU CAN LEARN FROM A TEACHER.

EDUCATION IS RELATIONAL.

THAT'S HOW WE LEARNED, BY WATCHING GOOD TEACHERS AND LETTING PEOPLE EXPLAIN THINGS TO YOU.

>> QUIRK SAYS OTHER PARENTS ARE TRANSFERRING THEIR KIDS TO OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE SEVEN OAKS TO GET AWAY FROM FREQUENT TECHNOLOGY USE, AND OTHERS ARE ASKING THE LOCAL SCHOOL CORPORATION FOR CLARITY ON HOW THEY CAN BEST BE USED AND WHETHER THEY CAN MANAGE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS THE SCREENS CAN HAVE ON CHILDREN.

EARLY SCREEN EXPOSURE IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER COGNITIVE ABILITIES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AS WELL AS DIMINISHED SOCIAL SKILLS.

BUT IN A TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN WORLD, EXPERTS SAY CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT TECHNOLOGY IF IT IS USED IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO HAVE BOOKS READ TO THEM AND THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE TEXT, WE'VE SHOWN -- THERE'S WITHIN EVIDENCE THAT HAS SHOWN THAT THAT MAKES AN IMPACT ON STUDENTS' READING CAPABILITIES AND WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.

>> BUT ANOTHER LOCAL PARENT WHOSE DAUGHTER HAS ATTENDED SUMMIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FINDS THE iPADS ARE MOST USEFUL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE HAVING AN eLEARNING DAY.

>> OTHER THAN ITS FUNCTION AS A GROUP ZOOM CHAT, IT DOES HELP WITH ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CLASSROOM ON DAYS LIKE THAT.

BUT I'VE NOT SEEN ANY APPLICATION OR -- OR OTHER FUNCTION OF THE iPAD THAT IS PARTICULARLY ADVANTAGEOUS IN TERMS OF BEING USED AS A LEARNING TOOL.

IT REALLY FEELS MORE OF LIKE A -- A DISTRACTION.

>> WHILE RIDDLE LIMITS ITS DAUGHTER'S SCREEN TIME AT HOME AND ENCOURAGES HER TO READ AND WRITE, SHE'S OFTEN FRUSTRATED WHEN IT'S TIME TO TURN THE SCREEN OFF, BECAUSE SHE'S SO USED TO SCREENS ON A DAILY BASIS AT SCHOOL.

HE THINKS PARENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY ON HOW MUCH TIME THEIR KIDS GET AS FAR AS SCREEN TIME ON SCHOOL DEVICES.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE NO SAY.

NO, SHE DOESN'T NEED AN iPAD.

I FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE DECISION TO USE IT.

AND THAT'S CONCERNING.

>> IN RESPONSE TO PARENT CONCERNS, MCCSC IS REDUCING UNNECESSARY SCREEN TIME SO THAT TECHNOLOGY IS USED ONLY WHEN IT SUPPORTS LEARNING.

LEFTWICH SAYS A KEY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR WORK.

>> YOU HAVE FINISHED AND YOU CAN GO OVER AND BUILD WITH THESE LEGOS OR READ THESE BOOKS OR HERE ARE SOME COLORING SHEETS THAT YOU CAN WORK ON.

THERE HAS TO BE -- THERE HAVE TO BE OTHER ALTERNATIVES AND THEY HAVE TO BE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE AT LEAST ATTRACTIVE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW TO TRY TO BREAK THE MOLD WITH LAPTOPS OR WITH iPADS.

>> ONE SCHOOL CORPORATION IN CONNORSVILLE, INDIANA, HAS GONE SO FAR AS TO REMOVE THE ONE-TO-ONE TECHNOLOGY USE IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.

>> THEY WILL REMAIN IN THE CLASSROOM ON A CART, WHERE KIDS CAN ACCESS THOSE, OBVIOUSLY WITH TEACHER PERMISSION THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO DO EDUCATIONALLY RELEVANT ACTIVITIES BUT THEY WON'T HAVE THEIR OWN DEVICES.

>> HE HOPES THAT TAKING THIS STEP WILL HELP KIDS BECOME BETTER COMMUNICATORS AND KNOW HOW TO BALANCE SCREEN TIME USAGE.

>> WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AT HOME.

AND SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE TAKING CONTROL OF, OBVIOUSLY IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

WE WANT THE KIDS TO BE PLAYING AND INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER.

>> DUNCAN RECOMMENDS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PAY ATTENTION TO THE RESEARCH ABOUT THE RESEARCH COMING OUT ON THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON KIDS AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT REJECTING TECHNOLOGY BUT FINDING BALANCE AND USE IT WELL.

WITHIN THOSE CLASSROOMS IT WILL REMAIN A PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR KIDS.

I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PREPARE THEM FOR A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ISABELLA VESPERINI.

>>> AND THE BLOOMINGTON ANIMAL SHELTER IS OVERWHELMED WITH DOGS!

THE SHELTER TYPICALLY HOUSES 50 TO 60 OF MAN'S BEST FRIENDS BUT CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 100.

OUR ELYSE PERRY VISITED THE SHELTER AND HAS MORE ON HOW THEY'RE COPING WITH THE OVERLOAD.

>> AT THE BACK OF THE BLOOMINGTON ANIMAL SHELTER, A ROW OF ENCLOSURES HOUSE DOGS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED.

OUTSIDE IN THE PLAY YARD A 10-MONTH-OLD BULLY BREED RUNS AROUND AND SMILES.

KILO IS ONE OF OVER 100 DOGS AT THE SHELTER.

>> HIS FAMILY HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING HIM CONFINED TO THEIR PROPERTY.

>> THEY MOSTLY ARRIVE AS STRAYS OR OWNER SURRENDERS.

THE SHELTER IS CURRENTLY CARRYING FOR 3 HAD 3 ANIMALS INCLUDING -- 343 ANIMALS, INCLUDING OVER 100 DOGS AND RABBITS AND KITTENS.

THE LITTERS OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS INCREASE THE NUMBERS COMING THROUGH THE DOORS AND MANY STUDENT VOLUNTEER LEAVE BLOOMINGTON.

HURST SAYS OVERCROWDING PUTS STRESS ON BOTH STAFF AND ANIMALS.

>> THERE'S A LOT MORE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PRESSURE OF SPACE.

WHILE CATS AND KITTENS ARE GENERALLY ADOPTED OR FOSTERED QUICKLY, FINDING HOMES FOR DOGS ARE MORE DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY LARGE BREEDS LIKE KILO.

THE LARGER BREEDS ARE THE ONES MOST IMPACTED BY SURRENDERS.

THEY ARE ALSO THE HARDEST TO PLACE BECAUSE OF SIZE AND BREED RESTRICTIONS FOR RENTERS AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES TO CARE FOR THEM.

SUADER SAYS THE SHELTER RELIES ON STUDENT FOSTERS TO MAINTAIN THE DOG POPULATION BUT MANY LEAVE FOR THE SUMMER.

>> THEY HAVE SUMMER INTERNSHIPS OR THEY HAVE TO MOVE BACK HOME FOR THE SUMMER OR OTHER ISSUES.

SO THEY ARE NO LONGER THERE TO HELP FOSTER THE DOGS.

>> WHILE THE SHELTER SEES A DECREASE IN FOSTERS, THERE ARE INCREASES IN OTHER TYPES OF VOLUNTEERING WHICH HELPS TO ALLEVIATE SOME STRESS.

>> TEACHERS WHO DON'T DO FOSTERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEY MIGHT POP IN MORE DURING THE SUMMER.

>>> ACCORDING TO HER, THE SHELTER ADOPTS OUT AROUND 50 TO 60 PETS PER WEEK, MORE DURING PROMOTIONS.

TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SHELTERS, HURST SAYS THE ORGANIZATION TRIES TO ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP.

ALSO THE SHELTER WILL HELP TO PROVIDE OWNERS WITH SUPPLIES TO KEEP THEIR PETS.

HURST SAYS THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HELP OTHER THAN DONATING, VOLUNTEERING OR ADOPTING.

>> JUST SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT SHELTER ANIMALS AND, YOU KNOW, DISCOURAGING YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS FROM PURCHASING ANIMALS FROM PET STORES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF PETS IN NEED.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ELYSE PERRY.

>> THE SHELTER OFFERS PROMOTIONS AND EVENTS WHERE ADOPTION FEES ARE WAIVED OR REDUCED.

THEY HAVE PLACED MORE THAN 800 PETS THIS YEAR.

THAT'S THE END OF THIS PROGRAM, BUT OUR WORK CONTINUES ONLINE AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT WTIUNEWS.ORG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

♪ "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE