Pleasant Valley School District’s superintendent took exception with a recent statement by a parent that electronic devices are being used to teach too much instead of direct instruction.

“I personally go around to the buildings and see the high quality instruction at PV,” Superintendent James Konrad said. “Our teachers are doing engaging labs, investigations. There are some amazing things going on in the district.”

Konrad said he realizes that there may be a teacher here or there who may be relying on electronic instruction too much, but he thinks it’s rare.

The district uses a program called iReady as an assessment tool of the student’s learning, Konrad said. It also uses electronic devices to supplement subjects.

“It’s a tool. It’s not to supplant learning, and it’s not to be used as a pacifier,” he said. “We need to have them engaging.”

Konrad said he’s been told by teachers and administration that “students want to have opportunities to engage in stimulating dialogue.”

The issue about electronic instruction came up at the Feb. 2 school board meeting by a parent. The man said the students were being instructed 35.29% of the time via electronic devices instead of teacher instruction.

Konrad said he talked to the parent later, and asked him about his data. The parent said he came up with that calculation based on his son’s experience in school.

Konrad said he understands the parent’s concern and is going to make sure that electronics are kept as a tool and not a crutch.