February 1998

INTRODUCTION

MISSION STATEMENT AND PHILOSOPHY

OBJECTIVES AND GOALS

GENERAL PLAN OVERVIEW

NETWORK DIAGRAM

DISTRICTWIDE TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

BUDGET

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

RESPONSE AND COMMENT FORM

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE HOME PAGE

During the early 1980's the District acquired Apple II's as an initial introduction to using technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, the full impact of integrating technology into the curriculum and the required support for the technology was not investigated or planned for at that time. Today, those Apple II's are still in use in many classrooms and comprise 44.4% of all computers within the District. Only 17.7% of the computers in the East Greenbush Central School District are powerful enough to run the most current multimedia software.

The East Greenbush Central School District's efforts toward responding to its technology needs were formally brought together with the formation of a Technology Committee through the District's Budget Review and Advisory Committee (BRAC) during the 1993-94 school year. The initial focus of the Committee was one of investigating options for improving access to and use of technology within the District by both students and the faculty.

Beginning with the 1994-95 school year, the Technology Committee stood apart from BRAC and was charged by Mr. Terrance Brewer, Superintendent, and the Board of Education to actively engage in a process of developing a comprehensive long-range technology plan. A full-fledged effort was made to ensure representation from each of the district's seven schools to work along with the community members in the long-range planning process.

Since that time, the Technology Committee, consisting of a broad spectrum of community residents and District personnel, has continued to meet on a regular and frequent basis to develop the components comprising a sound plan for technology integration for the District. The Committee has enlisted the assistance of a professional technology planning agency, Open Systems Technologies (OST), to ensure quality attention to detail and plan specifications.

Together, the Committee and the District's consultant have worked through a process of identifying a long-range technology plan for meeting the District's vision for integrating technology into the educational environment as a means of raising its standards for student performance and teacher skills as well as improving the teaching and learning process.

The vision, mission and objectives of the Long Range Technology Plan were presented in a proposal from the District Technology Committee in May 1997. This document explains the expectations of students, teachers, and administrators in using the technology tools included in the technology plan. This document has been amended to include the opportunities available to the community.

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This mission or statement of purpose drives the following expectations for student learning, teachers, administrators, and community.

• use computers as tools throughout the day and throughout the building, to perform the everyday tasks of learning: writing, drawing, finding information, analyzing data, sending and receiving messages.
• use software tools to conduct investigations, solve problems, and complete assignments in all subjects.
• gather information for their assignments from a variety of sources within and outside the school.
• use technology tools to extend students' capabilities in certain areas of study like MIDI instruments in music and Computer Aided Design.
• use computer-aided instruction in a variety of subject areas for review and practice.

• use a teaching and presentation workstation in their classroom. This workstation runs interactive video, CD-ROM, Hypertext and other multi-media software. In certain areas such as music, the arts, science labs, and graphics classrooms, the teaching station includes interfaces specific to the subject at hand. Teachers store and print documents and graphics and communicate with school-based and off-site databases and electronic mail service. The station can project images so an entire classroom can see them comfortably.
• exchange administrative data such as grades, attendance, and student information (schedules, IEPs, etc.) from the classroom.
• search and retrieve library and research resources from their classrooms both on-site and off-site.
• send electronic mail to each other, to specialists, to administrators, to students, to parents, and to community.
• select and review the most appropriate instructional software for their students from district software libraries.
• use word processing, desk-top publishing, and desk-top presentation tools to help prepare teaching materials and complete administrative tasks.
• use most of the above mentioned functions from home or other locations through dial-up access.

• access the information they need for decision-making from a desk-top workstation.
• communicate with faculty, community members and each other using the electronic mail.
• prepare reports and presentations with analytical and presentation graphics tools.
• conduct the business of the school from attendance to scheduling to student record-keeping with computerized tools.
• communicate with colleagues across the state and nation through communications.

• communication with district staff and administrators facilitated by the use of e-mail.
• access up to date East Greenbush School District information through the official World Wide Web site such as:
  • curriculum information including individual teacher web pages with course content and assignments
  • student publications (Devil's Advocate, Labyrinth, etc) and projects (original art work, surveys etc.)
  • calendar of district events (report card dates, PTO meetings, etc)
  • athletic calendar
  • Board of Education updates
  • The Report Card
  • bus routes
  • Continuing Education courses taught using state-of-the-art computers, which would include:
    • Commonly used software packages such as word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and electronic mail
    • Internet access
  • use computer labs during after school hours for searching for needed information on the Internet.

The following objectives and goals have been developed to ensure effective integration of technology within the District and to support the increased learning standards for students.

1. Objective

Graduate students with a pre-established level of technology proficiency.

Goal

Establish student standards of performance at the elementary level, intermediate level, and commencement level.

 

2. Objective

Integrate the use of technology across the curriculum.

Goal

Write curriculum which includes the use of technology as a learning tool throughout the disciplines and provide workshops and demonstrations to increase teacher awareness of technology as a learning tool.

 

3. Objective

Develop sufficient and continuous staff training and awareness for current and future technologies to assist all staff to effectively integrate technology into learning, teaching, and management responsibilities.

Goal

Develop a comprehensive technology training program which will be made available to all staff in various settings.

 

4. Objective

Provide appropriate staffing for the implementation of the Technology Plan.

Goal

Hire a districtwide Staff Development Specialist and a districtwide Technical Assistant Specialist. These individuals will be responsible for managing the implementation of the Technology Plan. The Staff Development Specialist will work on staff training while the Technical Assistant Specialist will be responsible for the technical management of the new computer networks and computer equipment.

 

5. Objective

Dispense appropriate and adequate state-of-the art equipment and software to facilitate student learning and staff productivity equally throughout the district.

Goal

Supply clusters of 3, 4, or 5 computers for all classrooms throughout the district and equip all district offices with networked computer stations. All of these computers will have access to appropriate software.

 

6. Objective

Establish a network to connect classrooms, school-sites, offices, and information sources both inside and outside the district.

Goal

Install and upgrade wiring in each building to accommodate the local area network and wide area network.

 

7. Objective

Equip fully automated library media centers, which will serve as the hub of information resources.

Goal

Supply each media center with a networked integrated catalog and circulation systems, which includes CD-ROM, multimedia, telecommunications and inter-library loan access as well as network the centers to classrooms and libraries.

 

8. Objective

Ensure all components of the district wide network including hardware and software are kept reasonably current with appropriate upgrades as new technologies are developed.

Goal

Plan for upgrading and replacing equipment starting with the fourth year following voter approval of the Technology Referendum. Maintain the district Technology Committee, with direction to recommend upgrades as new technology is developed.

 

9. Objective

Continue on-going evaluation and planning for the Technology Plan.

Goal

Establish building level technology advisory groups and promote community involvement in technology.

 

10. Objective

Ensure equity of access throughout buildings and throughout the district.

Goal

Develop a comprehensive distribution plan for technology.

The long-range plan addresses the following major areas:

• District wide technology standards
• Phased implementation plan
• Detailed equipment design
• Ongoing supplies and materials for printing
• Upgrading after the fourth year
• Technical support requirements and staffing
• Ongoing staff development.

The full text of the plan is available on the District Web Page, or by request.

Current Status

The Technology plan calls for each building to receive:

• a computer laboratory with 30 computers
• computers in the library media center along with library automation programs
• computers in each classroom based on curriculum needs and available space
• network equipment to support the local area network, connection to the District's wide area network and connection to the Internet (See Network Diagram)
• other peripheral devices such as printers, servers, and other support equipment.
• Electrical power upgrades and network cabling are included for Columbia. The other schools are receiving electrical upgrades and network cabling as part of the current building project.

The majority of classrooms in the District will receive five workstations, a printer and large monitor. The following exceptions for the number of workstations are indicated below:

• Kindergarten Classrooms - 3 workstations
• Columbia High School - 3, 4, or 5 workstations depending upon available classroom space
• Resource Rooms - 3 workstations
• Library / Media Centers - minimum of 8 workstations

Labs will be adjacent to the Library / Media Center in most buildings. A technical assistance specialist and a staff development specialist are included in the plan and will be engaged from the onset of the plan implementation.

All computers acquired to date will be connected to each building network by the end of the third year of the implementation plan. The computer network will connect classrooms, computer lab, library media center, and offices in each building. Each of the seven school buildings and the District Administrative offices will also be connected together by a computer network. All teachers, staff, and students will be able to access relevant resources on the network. Access to these resources, which include media centers, electronic mail, educational applications, printers and the Internet, will be controlled by the Network Administrator in accordance with policy set by the Board of Education.

Administrative workstations and software will utilize the same network being developed for serving educational needs. These administrative components will be funded from expected savings to come from replacing the district's current UNYSIS mainframe.

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(The listing represents minimum standards for students exiting the grade level indicated)

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The implementation of the technology plan will be phased in over five years. This will allow the district to:

• Provide adequate training
• Develop a district-wide curriculum plan for technology in accordance with the NYS standards
• Support the transition to a new learning environment involving technology in accordance with the NYS standards
• Allow for evaluation and revision of the plan based on our successes and changes in technology
• Provide an orderly, planned approach for replacing equipment over time
• Coordinate with the ongoing building program
• Control the annual cost to the district

A key consideration during the development of the implementation plan was equal access to computer technology for all students, as well as between and within each building. The plan provides for an equitable distribution of equipment based on student population (see charts below). The equipment will be distributed to each building, each year of the implementation plan, on a prorated basis. (See Technology Plan Implementation Schedule) The specifics of where and when the technology equipment will be installed in each classroom in a building will be determined by each building based on educational needs. The plan will focus on the core areas of media centers and computer labs for the earliest implementation to be followed by an equitable distribution to classrooms in the later years. In addition, the implementation plan at Columbia High School will have to be coordinated with the building renovation plan being developed.

An important component of the plan is the training to be provided to teachers. This training will not focus only on how to use the technology but will also provide instruction on how to incorporate the technology into the curriculum. Support staff will be hired under the plan to solve not only technical problems with the equipment, but to also support integrating technology into the curriculum. The staff development will start with an introduction approximately six months prior to placing computers in each teacher's classroom. The training will be adapted, as needed, to the technology experience of each staff member and will continue in the future to assure the best possible environment for integrating technology into each curriculum area.

The expenditures for Goff are actually larger due to technology plan components that were included in the building plan after bids were received.

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The initial plan developed by the Technology Committee included approximately $12 million in expenses with a phased five year implementation plan. The first full presentation of the Long Range Technology Plan to the Board of Education on February 26, 1997, included a total cost of approximately $10 million. Since that time numerous revisions and refinements have been made to the plan through ongoing dialogue between the Technology Committee, the Board of Education, the District Administration, and the District's Consultants until the current plan was arrived at and accepted.

The East Greenbush Central School District Board of Education approved the Long Range Technology Plan at their September 16, 1997 meeting. Currently, they have agreed to schedule a referendum on the financing of the $7,296,116 cost of the plan in July 1998. The plan will use a combination of leasing and purchasing to keep costs minimized and state aid maximized. The administrative portion of the technology plan will be funded by the regular annual budget through savings realized by replacing the current district computer. Consequently, the referendum planned for July 1998 will be for Educational Technology. The overview of the East Greenbush Central School District Technology Budget is presented in two charts on the following page which show costs broken out by anticipated revenue stream and by the major components of the Technology Plan. The full background details of the budget are available upon request.

The initial equipment purchases and support costs will be funded by the Technology referendum. The technical support, equipment upgrades, and supplies for those years after the initial purchase (2003-2004 and beyond) will become part of the regular annual budget. The specific items to be funded are listed below.

Equipment Maintenance and Repair

Communication Costs

Wide Area Network

Internet

Printing Supplies

Electrical Costs for Workstations, etc.

Staff Development

Technical Staff

Outsourced Technical Staff

Workstation Replacement/Upgrade Costs 10%/yr.

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The core areas used by all students are being targeted to receive computers early in the implementation plan to provide all students access to computers. The library media centers and the computer labs are scheduled to have the equipment installed during spring and summer 1999. Some locations may be slightly later depending on when each area is completed under the building renovation project. The first round of classroom computers will be in place by the fall of 1999 and all classrooms will have computers by the fall of 2002.

The total estimated cost for the technology plan to be addressed by the July 1 referendum is $7,296,116. Equipment will be acquired through a combination of purchase and lease to maximize the state aid received and to minimize the yearly cost impact to the taxpayers.

The new learning standards being developed for NYS require students to use computers to perform research on various topics, gather information, and evaluate the collected data to reach a conclusion. Students must be capable of using computers to compete in the job market today. The Technology Committee was formed during the 93-94 school year to respond to the technology needs within the district. After significant research and evaluation, the Technology Plan was developed and adopted by the Board of Education. The plan is now being presented to the residents of the district for a referendum in July 1998.

The district network will be based on Windows NT to provide the support and security required for a system of this size. The computers will be upper middle range PC compatibles, which will support the software to be distributed over the district network.

The computers will be monitored to evaluate how well they are supporting the software the district is using. When the computers cannot support the software, the equipment will be upgraded or replaced. The current plan calls for upgrades to start during the fourth year of the project. Some equipment may be upgraded sooner and some later depending on the specific requirements for the software being used.

Technology will be integrated into the curriculum by developing curriculum that requires students to use the technology to complete classroom assignments such as classroom projects. In utilizing the technology in this manner, they will gain learning experiences which will be needed after they complete their formal education. There are examples of classroom projects available on the Internet, in professional literature, and some developed as cooperative projects with other teachers which demonstrate how this will be accomplished. Implementation of the technology integration will occur as part of the curriculum review process. In the East Greenbush Central School District, each curriculum area such as Math or Social Studies is reviewed every 5 years.

All classroom teachers will receive training on using computers and other technology in the curriculum. They will also be trained on general application software like e-mail, Internet, word processing, multi media, and grading programs. Training will be provided from in-house staff and other available resources such as BOCES, NERIC, and the Teacher Center. Training will begin prior to the installation of computers in their classrooms. Additional training will be ongoing.

Students may use computers in the following areas: the classrooms for research and other curriculum related projects which require software applications, the library media center for research, and the computer labs for large group instruction through coordinated instructional support.

Project coordination will be the responsibility of the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction with assistance from the staff development specialist, technical assistance specialist, and the district technology committee.

The new technology resources will be available to continuing education classes. Some of the computer labs or library media centers could possibly be opened to community members to use during non-school hours after receiving proper training provided that appropriate supervision is available.

A number of resources will be available on the district's WEB page now under development. Calendar of Events, General District Information and student assignments are just of few of the items that will be accessible. It is anticipated that some student and faculty accounts with the appropriate security will have access to resources on the districts network servers will be available for doing work at home.

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We may be contacted via e-mail: egcsd@mum.neric.org

You may also submit questions, concerns, or comments to the following address:

Technology Committee
c/o Superintendent's Office
East Greenbush Central School District
Administration Center
East Greenbush, NY 12061