Pennsylvania Department of Educationdistrict utilizes standardized, state-of-the-art technology....

Pennsylvania Department of Education

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education

333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

Educational Technology Report Friday, February 10, 2012

(Last Approved: Tuesday, May 12, 2009)

Entity: Sayre Area SD Address: 333 W Lockhart St

Sayre, PA 18840-1609 Phone: (570) 888-7615

Contact Name: Dean Hosterman

Mission

Educating today's students for tomorrow's world.

Vision

Working collaboratively, we inspire a passion for learning, a commitment to excellence, and a respect for individuals as we prepare our students to face ever-changing global demands.

OUR:

schools are student-centered, research and data driven, and future focused.

challenges and successes are used as a catalyst for future growth, improvement and change.

schools focus on all students.

district utilizes standardized, state-of-the-art technology.

curriculum, instruction, and assessment are continually evolving to ensure alignment with academic standards.

schools use best instructional and assessment practices.

district provides schools and resources that support proper programming, pre-K through adult.

schools, parents, and community work together to provide well rounded educational opportunities.

Shared Values

The following shared values are built around the concept that all students can reach proficiency with support.

The District is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all.

All staff will work cooperatively with parents, students and community in a combined effort to increase and support student learning.

Differentiated instruction will be based on on-going assessment data and the application of research-based instructional strategies to meet the needs of every learner.

District decisions will be based on student performance data to ensure that students demonstrate their highest levels of proficiency.

All students bring diverse backgrounds requiring differentiated approaches to teaching and learning.

Classroom instruction must be engaging, purposeful, and relevant.

Effective educators employ best practices and nurture a culture conducive to student learning and continuous professional growth.

Education is enhanced when there is collaboration, open communication, and shared responsibility among stakeholders; students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, school board, and community members.

Needs Assessment

Reflections

Legacy Dataview 1492

Last Modified:

At least 40% or more of IEP students in all grades comprise the basic and below basic categories


Strength Last Modified:

The Sayre Area School District continues to make the AYP requirements as set forth by PDE and NCLB.


Concern Last Modified:

The district has identified the IEP subgroup as a group that needs to improve their test scores in math and reading. In addition, the Title I students in third grade had a large number score in the Below Basic category. Further, the socioeconomic subgroup at the high school level needs improvement in their test scores.



Males and Females, when compared by grade level, are performing at nearly the same levels across the board.


Last Modified:

Subgroups continue to make AYP. Below Basic Category can be improved upon across the board. A high number of students have scored in the Proficient and Advanced categories.



Third grade students that scored in the basic category for math is a high number. Need to review the curriculum and the test results with the academic standards and continue to revise the curriculum as necessary.


Reduce the number of students with an IEP who are scoring in the below basic and basic categories.


An overall improvement in writing scores as the students advanced through their educational careers.



Sayre offers an incredible amount of activities for students to improve their all-round character. It seems impossible that a student would not find some area to excel.


Strength Concern Last Modified:

Students continue to meet the NCLB mandated thresholds with regard to AYP. However, as the students progress from the elementary schools to the high school, the numbers of students in the below basic category increase.

Sayre Area School District is committed to leveraging technology to improve the education provided within the district. Our district conducts an annual technology needs assessment which is used to identify and prioritize the technology needs of our teachers, staff, and students. This report must include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education.

Technology Developments (emerging technologies that our district may take advantage of):

Each year we create a detailed technology plan which includes new technology and a replacement plan for old technology. Here are some of the new technologies that our school district is planning to take advantage of:

1. STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (SIS: Skyward): The district is moving to a more integrated SIS that integrates Learning Support, PIMS, Skylert, Grading, Family Access, Cafeteria, Discipline, Nursing, and other modules into one system. Over the next few years we will implement new components of this SIS to make our district more efficient and student / family focused. The new SIS will be accessible via any web browser, greatly increasing the accesiblity for teachers, staff, students, and family members. The new SIS will help with the management of IEP students since the product in integrated with the other student components. This will make it easier to share information and work with the IEP students.

2. READING TECHNOLOGIES: The district is implementing a variety of technologies to improve the reading levels. The products being implemented are Kurzweil, Accelerated Reader, and Read Naturally.

3. MATH TECHNOLOGIES: The district is implementing the following technologies to help improve the math proficiences. Elmo and Alex. Elmo units are being pilot tested with select teachers. Alex software is being used in the High School.

4. DISASTER RECOVERY: Since the district is dependent on technology for its day to day operations, we will continue to implement disaster recovery plan and technologies. Utilizing Veeam technology to off site replicate our virtualized servers allows us to ensure that if our main data center is not available, that we have an off site replica of our main servers.

5. VIRTUALIZATION: The district has identified Virtualization as a method of increasing the efficiency and cost of delivery technology solutions to the staff, teachers, and students. Virtualization will allow the district to move to new server technologies in a faster manner that will reduce the support costs and long term server costs. We will continue to leverage a few physical servers that will in turn produce many virtual servers.

6. WINDOWS 7: The district will begin to migrate to Windows 7 from the legacy Windows XP. We will begin to leverage the new features of Windows 7 in our environment with a focus on improving support and performance.

7. AIR CONDITIONING (Data Center): Due to the amount of technology in our data center, we are implementing appropriate air conditioning solution to ensure that our technology is in a properly controlled climate. Over the years our technology increased but our air conditioning did not keep pace.

8. MEDIA RICH TECHNOLOGIES: The district will continue to implement and leverage media rich technologies such as Discovery Education. We will continue to expand the

breadth of offerings to our students and teachers. These technologies specifically aid the visual learners within our district.

9. BLENDED SCHOOLS: The district will leverage the course offerings of Blended Schools. This will provide opportunities for students that they could not normally get at our district. We will continue to expand the utilization of this technology.

10. SECURITY: The district will continue to work on implementing technologies and procedures to help ensure that our data is secure. Such technologies such as LDAP, VLAN's, Desktop Authority will continue to be implemented to be proactive with respect to security.

11. REGIONAL WAN / STATE WAN: The district will continue to participate in the Regional WAN / State WAN. This technology initiative will allow the school to access resources from throughout the state (and potentially access colleges). Additionally, this technology will allow us to access Internet 2 type technologies. The focus will be on providing more educational learning opportunities for our students and teachers.

12. DIGITAL MEDIA: The district will work to provide students with opportunities to create rich digital media (including digital images and digital movies). This will give students the opportunities to create 21st century projects.

Identification of New Technologies (how do you identify potential new technologies that may be used to improve education for your school or community):

1. TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE: The district will utilize the expertise of our technology committee (recommended technology to research).

2. INTERNET: The district will continue to research new technologies via internet and webinars from a variety of vendors.

3. BLaST IU 17: The district will continue to attend IU17 events that identify new technologies that may be leveraged to improve education for our district. For example, Discovery Education media rich applications were identified by IU17.

4. PETE&C (Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo & Conference): The district will continue to attend PETE&C to identify new technologies that may be leverage at our district. For example, smart tablets were demonstrated at PETE&C and then purchased for classroom instruction.

5. PDE CFF (Classrooms for the Future): The district continues to utilize CFF technologies such as Wikis, Skype, and much more. The district hopes that CFF will continue or some variation of this resource (this has been a wonderful resource for our district).

Strengths and Weaknesses (related to technology and have been identified by staff, students, or parents — utilize surveys):

1. STRENGTHS:

a. STRONG LEADERSHIP: Our district, our school board, our admin team, and our teachers are committed to leveraging technology to improve the education delivered to our students. For example, our technology committee meets and guides our district in new technologies that can provide good educational solutions to our students. Our district’s commitment to technology ensures that we have what we need, while also ensuring that our district is good stewards of the funding received.

b. WELL PLANNED: Sayre Area School District utilizes planning. We strongly believe that “proper planning produces good results”.

c. WIDE VARIETY OF RESOURCES: Our district’s staff has a wide variety of skill sets. For example, our Technology Integrator is not only our Art teacher but also well versed in computer animation.

2. WEAKNESSES:

a. OLD FACILITIES: Our district’s buildings are old and many times that environment was not designed to support technology. The good news is that our facility planning is implementing upgrade plans to our facilities. Of course this will take time and financial commitment to our project.

Goals and Strategies

Goal: Communications

Description: SASD strives to continuously improve communications/responsiveness/sensitivity in all aspects of district operations

Strategy: Communicate Strategic Plan

Description: SASD will work to communicate the goals, strategies, and action plans for the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan to ensure the successful implementation of the plan.

Activity: Administrative Team Strategic Plan Implementation Discussions

Description: Schedule monthly meetings of the district’s administrative team to discuss implementation of the 2011-2014 Strategic Plan.

Person Responsible Timeline for Implementation Resources

Dean Hosterman Start: 1/1/2011 Finish: Ongoing

-

Status: Not Started — Overdue

Activity: Strategic Plan on District Website, Opening Day, and School Board Updates

Description: 1. Strategic plan documents placed on the district website. 2. An overview of the Strategic Plan goals will be presented during opening day events to all district employees in order to ensure the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan goals. 3. Place “Strategic Plan” as a monthly agenda item for School Board of Directors meetings.



-

Status: In Progress — Upcoming

Date Comment

1/27/2012 Reviewed and revised by Rick Rava 2012-02-27

Strategy: Parent Communications

Description: SASD strives to continuously promote and establish ongoing communications between the school district and parents.

Activity: District Portal for Parent Access

Description: The District Technology Committee has adopted a new student information system that allows greater, real-time access to student information by parents and guardians. Student performance information, attendance and discipline are all now communicated with parents in real time.



-


Date Comment


Activity: SkyAlert

Description: The District Technology Committee has explored options for improving parent communication through technology. As a result parents have greater access to student

information. We also frequently utilize our automated phone system to relay information to all student households in both emergency and non-emergency situations.



$19,968.00


Date Comment


Activity: Web Site

Description: We will continue to use the District-wide web site that is now updated daily. We will continue to upgrade our web server technology in order to improve parent communications and market our district. As of 2012, we have quick access to many of the most commonly requested informaiton including our Skyward SIS, Email, Calendar, Staff Directory, and much more.


Rick Rava Start: 1/1/2011 Finish: Ongoing

-


Date Comment



Strategy: Promote and Market District

Description: SASD strives to promote and market the district by providing an up dates on district activities using multi-media sources (i.e. on-line, local radio and television stations, newspaper, Schedule Star, SkyAlert) and collaboration with the district's community relation committee and PTG.

Activity: District Events Calendar

Description: Develop and maintain a District Information/Announcements/Calendar of Events through collaboration between the Technology Department, WebMaster, Athletic Director, Schedule Star Referencing, Director of Building and Grounds, and Building Principals.



$6,000.00


Date Comment


Goal: Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Reporting

Description: By 2014 the Sayre Area School District will meet or exceed the AYP required proficiency levels as set by PDE and NCLB in all curricular areas.

Strategy: Data

Description: The Sayre Area School District is committed to utilizing student achievement data and research to assess and evaluate student performance to improve overall student achievement.

Activity: Student Data Management System

Description: SASD continuously monitors and analyzes both local and state assessment results to determine targets for improvement of student achievement of the academic standards.



-


Date Comment




Goal: Four Year Graduation Rate (for districts and schools that graduate seniors)

Description: The Sayre Area School District's Graduation Rate will meet or exceed the threshold set by NCLB and/or show growth.

Strategy: Blended Schools

Description: Students may be enrolled part or full time through Blended Schools or may work on credit recovery of failed courses in order to remain in high school and to complete high school requirements.

Activity: Enrollment

Description: Qualifying students may be evaluated to determine the need for enrollement into the Blended Schools Program. An individualized student plan will be developed and monitored. The goal is to keep students in high school by using a nontraditional method which doesn't require regular school attendance but rather the attainment of goals and completion of high school coursework.



-

Status: Not Started — Overdue

Goal: Reading

Description: By 2014 the Sayre Area School District will meet or exceed the AYP required proficiency levels as set by PDE and NCLB.

Strategy: Remedial Instruction in Reading

Description: SASD teachers will learn to implement research based strategies, especially Learning Focused Schools strategies, and to adopt instruction in order to improve reading skills.

Activity: Study Island

Description: Study Island is a web-based state assessment preparation program that is based on academic standards. This program is used as a supplementary program to the regular curriculum. The staff that use these intervention programs have been trained in the most effective use of the programs to promote student achievement in reading and language arts.


Michelle Murrelle Start: 1/1/2011 Finish: Ongoing

$5,000.00


Date Comment



Goal: Technology Integration

Description: SASD works to fully integrate technology into both the instruction and operation areas of the Sayre Area School District.

Strategy: Classroom Educational Technology

Description: SASD will continue to leverage educational technology in the classroom to enable students to learn in a more hands-on, visually stimulating environment. Classroom technology will in many cases allow for a more individualized learning opportunity for our students. Classroom technology is focused on standards so that the support can be simplified which results in cost savings. The key is standards!

Activity: Classroom Computers (Learning Centers)

Description: In order to better meet the various learning needs of each student, more computers are needed in the classrooms. This allows teachers to better address and break up classes into learning centers (for example, if a student needs additional help on a specific topic, the student could work with technology to improve their skills). As of 2012 most classrooms have some student computers or mobile laptop carts.



$36,000.00


Date Comment




Activity: Computer Projectors

Description: SASD continues to implement computer projectors in the classrooms to create a visually stimulating learning environment. As a result of the WAN project, we now have high-speed internet technologies available to the district. In order to better leverage these technologies in the classrooms, computer projectors were cited as one of the top needs. As of 2012, most classrooms and learning rooms have projectors.



$50,000.00


Date Comment



Activity: Digital Cameras / Camcorders

Description: SASD will continue to implement digital cameras and camcorders for students and teachers to leverage digital media in the classroom.



$15,000.00


Date Comment



Activity: Printers / Scanners

Description: SASD will continue to implement printers and scanners in classrooms.



$15,200.00


Date Comment


Activity: Smart Tablets / Smart Boards

Description: SASD will continue to implement Smart Tablets / Smart Boards in the classroom to create a more interactive and visually stimulating teaching environment.



$55,000.00


Date Comment


Strategy: IT Management Tools

Description: SASD will continue to implement and leverage IT Management Tools to better manage the software and systems within the district. Management tools will be used in conjunction with standards that allow for our staff to better support our technology. Management tools will in many cases be proactive to identify support issues. Tools such as Desktop Authority are used to secure, manage, and support our desktop computers. Tools such as Acronis Image Center are used to standardize and distribute our desktop images. Tools such as MS Group Policies and MS Active Directory are used to manage our users and security.

Activity: Desktop Managment

Description: SASD will continue to implement technology that allows us to better support the technology within the district such as: 1. Remote installation of software via Desktop Authority management tools. 2. Remotely troubleshoot and reconfigure PCs while the end user is still on their PCs using Desktop Authority management tools. 3. Manage our Microsoft environment efficiently. For example, this system allows us to configure MS Outlook clients (non web) without using the user’s login account using Desktop Authority management tools.



$15,600.00


Date Comment



Strategy: Network Infrastructure

Description: SASD has developed and maintains reliable network connections between our school buildings. BLaST IU17 will maintain our connection between our district and the IU17 WAN. Network infrastructure will focus on providing fast and reliable access. Our wired network infrastructure is now standardized on Juniper equipment. We are implementing VLANs to further secure our network. We have completed the fiber hookup to the WAN (versus the microwave wireless hookup). We have completed the running of fiber to our data center to finalize our star network.

Activity: Network Building Connections

Description: SASD will continue maintaining our school buildings fiber and T1 lines. We will continue to upgrade and replace all of our network closet equipment. As of 2012, we have upgraded our main fiber connection between our elementary and high school building to now perform at 10 GB from 1 GB. We are continuing to use VLANs and other network settings to segment and secure traffic between the buildings.



$36,000.00


Date Comment


Activity: Network Closet Equipment

Description: We will continue to upgrade and replace all of our network closet equipment (we were experiencing network drops and outages and performance issues that are now fixed. We have completed our plan to address this problem). We completed our move of our core network switch / fiber to our data center for better environmental control and to improve performance of our network. We completed our move of our science wing network closet due to science wing renovations. As of 2012, all of our network wired equipment is Juniper and is standardized with the same OS and configurations.



$42,000.00


Date Comment


Activity: Network Wiring / Fiber

Description: SASD will continue to redesign current network structure to improve reliability, maintainability, and performance of our network. Plans include fiber and copper wiring redesign and expansion.



$12,600.00


Date Comment


Activity: Wireless Network Access

Description: We will continue to upgrade and expand our wireless network to expand the utilization of technology in the classrooms (initiated by the Classrooms for the Future project. As of 2012, our main buildings have wireless coverage. We are now working on upgrading our wireless for higher bandwidth and better management.



$36,000.00


Date Comment



Strategy: Professional Development

Description: SASD will teachers will be given instruction on integrating technology in their classrooms.

Activity: 2012 Inservice Training with Technology

Description: Teachers will be trained with technology in the many new technology areas such as but not limited to: Item Analysis, Promethean Boards, Taking It Global, Skype, Photostory, Google Docs, Google Earth as well as the new student information system (Skyward).

Person Responsible Timeline for Implementation

Resources

Dayton Handrick Start: 8/24/2012 Finish: 8/24/2012

$9,200.00

Professional Development Activity Information

Number of Hours Per Session

Total Number of Sessions Per School Year

Estimated Number of Participants Per Year

2.00 30 90

Organization or Institution Name

Type of Provider Provider’s Department of Education Approval Status

Sayre Area School District School Entity Approved

Knowledge and Skills Research and Best Practices

Designed to Accomplish

Teachers will learn about various technologies that the school offers, and teachers will utilize these to make their classrooms more advantageous.

Technology helps and assists teachers in being effective in the classroom.

For classroom teachers, school counselors and education specialists:

Increases the educator’s teaching skills based on research on effective practice, with attention given to interventions for struggling students.

Provides educators with a variety of classroom-based assessment skills and the skills needed to analyze and use data in instructional decision-making.

Empowers educators to work effectively with parents and community partners.

For school and district administrators, and other educators seeking leadership roles:

Provides the knowledge and skills to think and plan

strategically, ensuring that assessments, curriculum, instruction, staff professional education, teaching materials and interventions for struggling students are aligned to each other as well as to Pennsylvania’s academic standards.

Instructs the leader in managing resources for effective results.

Educator Groups Which Will Participate in this Activity

Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers Early childhood (preK-grade 3)

Middle (grades 6-8)

High school (grades 9-12)

Follow-up Activities Evaluation Methods

Team development and sharing of content-area lesson implementation outcomes, with involvement of administrator and/or peers

Analysis of student work, with administrator and/or peers

Creating lessons to meet varied student learning styles

Peer-to-peer lesson discussions

Classroom observation focusing on factors such as planning and preparation, knowledge of content, pedagogy and standards, classroom environment, instructional delivery and professionalism.

Student PSSA data

Standardized student assessment data other than the PSSA

Classroom student assessment data

Status: Not Started — Upcoming

Date Comment



Strategy: Security

Description: SASD will continue to address current and future security needs of the district to help ensure a safe environment, including online environment, for our students and staff. Our Acceptable Use Policy restricts access to our network for only district purchased and supported technology, thus further enhances the security.

Activity: Backup

Description: SASD will continue to implement and refine a Continuous Backup Solution to disk and and external USB drives. For example: • DAILY Onsite Critical Files: Monday through Thursday the SASD Critical Server files are backed up to disk on SASDDPM1 utilizing MS Data Protection Manager. • DAILY Offsite Critical Files: Monday through Thursday the SASD Critical Server files are backed up to disk on SASDDPM2 utilizing MS Data Protection Manager that makes a backup copy of the backup on SASDDPM1. • WEEKLY Offsite Critical Servers: Friday through Sunday the SASD Virtual Servers (entire servers) are backed up to disk offsite utilizing VEEAM. • MONTHLY Offsite Critical Files: Monthly backup the critcal files stored on SASDDPM1 to external USB drives that are then placed in an offsite locked storage.



$9,600.00


Date Comment





Activity: Computer Classroom Management

Description: SASD will continue to upgrade Computer Classroom Management software to ensure that the teachers can effectively manage their students while they work on their computers. Using NetOp Vision software that allows the Master Teacher computer to install the latest version of the classroom management software to that classroom, lab, or library.



$7,500.00


Date Comment


Activity: Student Picture ID

Description: Student photos will be used to create student picture identification cards that will be used to help create a safe school environment. In 2012 implemented new Skyward Student Information System and new photo id process.



$6,600.00


Date Comment



Activity: Student Technology / Security Camera Monitoring

Description: SASD will continue to upgrade the Student Monitoring systems (ex. Desktop Authority trace files) and the Security Camera systems so that most student activity is monitored (ex. when they logged in, what web sites they accessed, etc.).



$15,600.00


Date Comment



Strategy: Technology Refresh Cycle

Description: Sayre Area School District is committed to upgrading and providing the latest technology to it's students. Sayre's current plan involves replacing PC's, servers, and network equipment. A barrier is that the district can only afford to replace sections of its technology because of lack of resources (money, time,

and staff). A technology needs assessment is conducted yearly to determine the needs of the district.

Activity: Labs

Description: SASD will continue to upgrade our technology labs to provide a state of the art learning environment for our students and staff.



$78,000.00


Date Comment


Activity: PC

Description: SASD will continue to replace and upgrade the PCs by annually replacing the oldest PCs with new PCs. We will work to recycle obsolete PCs and reallocate older PCs to classrooms (small technology learning centers). As of 2009, we have completed the replacement of old CRT monitors with LCD monitors to save on energy. As of 2010, we have begun implementing wireless netbooks in the classroom.



$186,000.00


Date Comment


Activity: Server

Description: Sayre continue to migrate servers leveraging server virtualization technology from VMWare. The virtualization technology will allows for fewer physical servers but more virtual servers (reducing electric and support costs). As of 2012, the majority of critical servers have been migrated to VMWare eSXi. In the next few years, we will be upgrading to the newer VMWare virtualization versions as they come to market.

There are many advantages with this solution including but not limited to: 1. Maintainability: SASD has greatly expanded the available technology to our students, teachers, and staff. Virtual Server Technology will allow the technology department to better manage and support the technology using the maintenance benefits of Virtual Server Technology. 2. Energy savings (for example, instead of having 8 physical servers ? only needing 2 physical servers and Virtual Server Technology to create virtual servers). 3. System rollout efficiencies: To roll out a new server with the old technology takes at least 1 day to configure / build the server. With Virtual Server Technology new servers can be built in a few minutes. 4. Testing: With the old server technology, testing of servers requires an identical setup on identical hardware (which is costly and we do not have the luxury of purchasing testing server). With Virtual Server Technology, we can quickly create another server and test. 5. Reliability: With the old server technology, if a server fails, we need to wait for parts or a replacement of that unit. With Virtual Server Technology’s iMotion technology, a failed server rolls over to another Virtual Server Technology server with no down time. 6. Backup / Disaster Recovery: Since Virtual Server Technology is not tied to a specific hardware, if a disaster occurred — the servers can be quickly recreated at another site. 7. Optimal Server Setup: Applications running on servers run best when they are the only application on that server. Virtual Server Technology allows SASD to segment the servers to the specific applications.



$33,000.00


Date Comment


Activity: Software Refresh

Description: Sayre will continue to leverage licensing reductions (due to existing licenses and licenses from our Classroom for the Future Grant) — so that we may purchase a district wide site license. Software is currently available on only pockets of PCs due to lack of licenses. The following 2 examples illustrate some of the software that can result in cost savings. Inspiration® for grades 6 to 12 The essential tool to visualize, think, organize and learn Powered by the proven strategies of visual learning, Inspiration supports improved achievement for secondary students and adults. Inspiration strengthens critical thinking, comprehension and writing across the curriculum. Kidspiration® for grades K to 5 The visual way to think, write and comprehend Kidspiration provides an easy way for primary students to build visual diagrams to represent thoughts and organize information. With Kidspiration, students learn to express their thoughts, organize their ideas for writing and improve comprehension.



$96,000.00


Date Comment



Strategy: Technology Standards

Description: We are migrating to Windows 7 on the PC desktop. We migrated our wired network standards from 3COM to Juniper switch technology. We are migrating to Juniper wireless technology. We successfully standardized our servers on Windows 2003/2008/2008 R2 Server. We migrated to a to a primarily Windows only server network. We virtualized the majority of our servers to VMWare eSXi. We successfully standardized our main desktop application suite on Office 2010.

Activity: Desktop Standards

Description: SASD will continue to develop annual desktop software standards utilizing the latest software. For example, upgrade our desktop operating system from Windows XP to Windows 7.



$15,600.00


Date Comment



Activity: Inventory and Naming

Description: SASD will continue to develop standards for our technology naming conventions and work to keep our technology inventory up to date.



$15,600.00


Date Comment


Activity: MS Office Upgrades

Description: We will continue to offer the latest version of MS Office. We will include inservice training for staff and updating of student course materials.



$36,000.00


Date Comment


Strategy: Wide Area Network (WAN)

Description: We use a WAN to give our students and staff access to high speed internet.

Activity: WAN BLaST IU17 Media Rich Content and Internet Access

Description: SASD will continue to leverage the high bandwidth capablities of the WAN to deliver media rich content and internet resources. As of 2011, WAN has been upgraded to provide a shared 400MB internet connection for the school districts in this region.



$90,000.00


Date Comment


Budget

Potential Budget for a NEW plan report that will span 7/1/2012 to 6/30/2015

Funding Source 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 Total

010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET $4,256.00 $4,256.00 $0.00 $8,512.00

Grand Total $4,256.00 $4,256.00 $0.00 $8,512.00

Goal: Communications SASD strives to continuously improve communications/responsiveness/sensitivity in all aspects of district operations

Parent Communications

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

Total Funding Source

SkyAlert $3,256.00 $3,256.00 $0.00 $6,512.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Promote and Market District

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

Total Funding Source

District Events Calendar $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Subtotal $4,256.00 $4,256.00 $0.00 $8,512.00

Grand Total $4,256.00 $4,256.00 $0.00 $8,512.00

Potential Budget for an AMENDMENT to the currently approved plan report that spans 7/1/2009 to 6/30/2012.

Funding Source 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Total

010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET $300,400.00 $313,200.00 $311,556.00 $925,156.00

Grand Total $300,400.00 $313,200.00 $311,556.00 $925,156.00

Goal: Communications SASD strives to continuously improve communications/responsiveness/sensitivity in all aspects of district operations

Parent Communications

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Total Funding Source

SkyAlert $3,400.00 $3,400.00 $3,256.00 $10,056.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Promote and Market District


District Events $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $3,000.00 010 -

Calendar ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Subtotal $4,400.00 $4,400.00 $4,256.00 $13,056.00

Goal: Technology Integration SASD works to fully integrate technology into both the instruction and operation areas of the Sayre Area School District.

Classroom Educational Technology


Classroom Computers (Learning Centers)

$10,000.00 $12,000.00 $14,000.00 $36,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Computer Projectors $20,000.00 $20,000.00 $10,000.00 $50,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Digital Cameras / Camcorders


Printers / Scanners $5,000.00 $5,000.00 $5,200.00 $15,200.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Smart Tablets / Smart Boards


IT Management Tools 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Total Funding Source

Desktop Managment $5,000.00 $5,200.00 $5,400.00 $15,600.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Network Infrastructure


Network Building Connections


Network Closet Equipment


Network Wiring / Fiber $4,000.00 $4,100.00 $4,500.00 $12,600.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Wireless Network Access


Professional Development


2012 Inservice Training with Technology


Security 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Total Funding Source

Backup $3,000.00 $3,200.00 $3,400.00 $9,600.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Computer Classroom Management


Student Picture ID $2,000.00 $2,200.00 $2,400.00 $6,600.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Student Technology / Security Camera Monitoring


Technology Refresh Cycle


Labs $25,000.00 $26,000.00 $27,000.00 $78,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

PC $60,000.00 $62,000.00 $64,000.00 $186,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Server $10,000.00 $11,000.00 $12,000.00 $33,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Software Refresh $30,000.00 $32,000.00 $34,000.00 $96,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Technology Standards


Desktop Standards $5,000.00 $5,200.00 $5,400.00 $15,600.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Inventory and Naming $5,000.00 $5,200.00 $5,400.00 $15,600.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

MS Office Upgrades $10,000.00 $12,000.00 $14,000.00 $36,000.00 010 - ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET

Wide Area Network (WAN)


WAN BLaST IU17 Media Rich Content and Internet Access


Subtotal $296,000.00 $308,800.00 $307,300.00 $912,100.00

Grand Total $300,400.00 $313,200.00 $311,556.00 $925,156.00

Staff Development

The report must include professional development to ensure that staff appropriately utilizes technology to improve education.

What are the specific resources, strategies and activities that you plan to implement to ensure that all of your staff is ready to use and maintain technology?

The district will leverage internal and external resources to implement staff technology training. Some of the currently used methods are staff training during in-service days, external training through college courses, onsite and offsite training through BLaST IU17, PDE webinars (ex. PIMs), vendor webinars, workshops and much more.

Who will be in charge of facilitating the professional development activities?

The District’s Superintendent and the Director of Information Technology will be in charge of facilitating the professional development activities with respect to educational technology.

Are there in-service slots set aside for technology-related professional development?

Yes — our district’s in-service days have slots set aside for technology-related professional development.

Will the professional development be required for all that use it, or is it optional? If optional, what incentives exist to encourage teachers to pick up these new skills?

During our in-service days, the training is required. For other initiatives, it may or may not be required (ex. Classrooms for the Future).

What models of professional development would work in your organization to train your staff?

Individually Guided Development: In this case, the teacher designs his or her learning activities.

Observation: The teacher observes another teacher teach using technology.

Team Teaching: 2 or more teachers work together and share their training methods with respect to technology.

Training: Onsite and offsite training (ex. Onsite training provided during in-service days).

Inquiry: Teachers formulate questions about how they currently teach and pursue answers leveraging educational technology.

Do you have the resources in house to train these staff members or do they need to go to outside providers, or a combination of the two?

Our district leverages a combination of internal and external staff development resources.

Additionally, our district utilizes our web site to develop commonly used Technology Tips to help with common technology activities.

What financial and time resources exist to keep the staff up to date in learning about new technologies?

Scheduled in-service days and special training sessions during tutorials or special scheduled times. Currently, the district also has scheduled time for all Classroom for the Future teachers to participate in educational technology training.

What professional development opportunities are available from outside sources (such as service providers, courses at institutions of higher education, conferences, courses delivered via distance learning or over the Internet; courses sponsored by your state education or library agency)?

A wide variety of opportunities exist for our district from outside sources including but not limited to IU17, PETE&C, Wilkes University, and much more.

What professional development opportunities and resources exist for your professional staff (i.e., teachers or librarians) to ensure that they can not only use the new technologies, but to use them to deliver improved teaching and learning or improved library services?

Training during our in-service days is focused on technology that can be used to improve teaching and learning. Currently we leverage internal and external training that shows teachers how to teach with new technology. Our Classroom for the Future project includes “embedded learning” training that focuses on specifically changing the way teachers teach.

What classes or seminars are available to your staff on an ongoing basis within your organization?

Currently we have scheduled onsite training during our in-service days. All other training is special scheduling specific to groups of employees (onsite or external training).

Can your staff meet with others who are already further along in implementing technology in another school or library?

Yes, our staff has and will continue to make site visits to other schools to see how they are utilizing technology.

What professional development is available from service providers?

Our technology vendors provide onsite and external training for many of their products. Many of the vendors offer internet based training that can be used when the staff has time to participate (ex. Webinars).

What professional development opportunities are available from outside sources (such as service providers, courses at institutions of higher education, conferences, courses delivered via distance learning or over the Internet; courses sponsored by your state education or library agency)?

A wide variety of opportunities including formal college classes, internet classes, seminars, UI17 courses, and much more.

Monitoring

Who will be responsible for the monitoring activities?

· The district’s Director of Technology will be responsible for monitoring the eStrategic Plan Technology activities.

How will activities be monitored? And how often?

· The activities will be monitored by the Director of Technology. The status of the activities will be reviewed by the District’s Technology Committee on a monthly basis during the school year.

How will you determine technology integration is occurring appropriately? (e.g. is technology used regularly to enrich curriculum?, is the technology used right for the task?)

· Observation of teachers teaching with technology. Many different observation tools are available including but not limited to electronic lab calendars, amount of materials in electronic format (folders), online Wikis, web filter reporting, Desktop Authority reporting, Skyward Student Information System reports, and much more.

How will you determine technology implementation is appropriate for your identified needs?

· We will continue to utilize technology needs assessments to ensure the technology meets that needs of the teachers, students, and staff. The focus will be on implementing the most cost effective solutions that are easy to manage. Standards will be a focal point to improve the service and support that we provide to our students, teachers, staff, family members, and community members.

Evaluation

Teachers and administrators will utilize evaluation strategies that consist of the following:

1. Classroom observation 2. Informal reviews 3. Standardardized test results 4. Running records 5. Curriculum based assessments 6. Report cards

Additional metrics will be developed that:

1. Grade projects (that utilized the technology) for work completed at the school. For example, the quality of research papers would include how technology was used to develop and complete the research papers.

2. The quantity and quality of online teacher web presences will be evaluated (ex. teacher wikis, web pages, etc).

Technology Utilization and Evaluation (We will utilize the various technology management tools to review how much technology is used per student / teacher).

1. Desktop Authority Reports: will show how much technology is used by the student / teacher / staff.

2. Server Disk Usage: will show how much storage is used by each teacher and student (trend analysis).

3. Computerized Lab Calendaring: will show the utilization of the computer labs. 4. Email Usage: will show the utilization of email. 5. Web Statistics: will show the access statistics of various parts of our web site. 6. Skyward: will show the utilization of Parent / Student / Teacher / Staff access to our

student information system including such items as grades, attendance, announcements, assignments, calendars, and much more.

Plan for Unmet Goals and Strategies: From the evaluation methods above, areas that need additional technology or training will be identified. The areas / goals that were not met will be evaluated to see what needs to be done to achieve these goals (for example, more wireless laptops in the classroom).

Unexpected Outcomes Due to the Educational Technology Plan: Many of the Educational Technology Plan Initiatives have currently resulted in a bigger demand for technology. This has resulted in students preferring to learn with technology and has brought more and more teachers on board with leveraging technology in their classrooms.

Date post:	13-Jul-2020
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