2005 Technology Plan - Bond-Funded Items


Classroom Presentation Systems

Status

LCD Video projectors, screens and cables

 On target to get an LCD projector into every classroom in 2009-10 school year.

Ceiling mounting

 We mount projectors as quickly as we can, with a goal of having each year’s purchases mounted by winter break.

Classroom Benefits:

  • Ability to display video, Internet or other PC presentations that can be seen by everyone in the classroom
  • Stable, appropriately ceiling-mounted projectors minimize chances for damage or theft

 NOTE: Anticipating a 5-year replacement cycle

PC/Server Refresh

Status
Over time, software updates demand increased hardware performance. At the same time, aging hardware becomes less reliable and requires additional maintenance (and people to provide that support). We have adopted a plan for scheduled replacement over a 3-4 year (ongoing) time-frame (i.e. 1/4 to1/3 of all devices replaced every year). This compares to our current 20% annual replacement. Our estimate is based on purchasing. Key elements of this include: We have been replacing older machines and expect to be fully on this cycle with the start of the 2008-09 school year.

Improve Student to PC ratio to 3:1 (roughly 3,300 student-used computers) – up from roughly 6:1 in 2004-5.

 Done (effective 8/15/2007)

Warranty coverage for device duration, decreasing the amount and cost of maintenance

 Done. However, our analysis of problems reported indicates that this isn’t needed for desktop machines and we’ve switched to ordering those with basic one-year warranty.

Mix of desktops (3,000) and laptops (1,800), plus laptop carts with their associated wireless access points

 Done (effective 8/15/2007)

Additional servers to support the additional PC’s, including refreshing servers on a 3-year basis

 We’ve added servers and started replacing older ones. We expect to be fully on this cycle with the start of the 2008-09 school year.
Classroom Benefits:
  • Improved access to computers for instructional and assessment use, including assessment practice (online ruler, protractor, etc.)
  • More current and more reliable hardware, minimizing outages

Wireless Access Points

Status
Provide wireless access throughout each facility as well as on playgrounds and sport fields (for phone access in order to deal with emergency situations). We have started to implement ubiquitous wireless in school buildings that have been re-wired. This does not yet include exterior access, which may be better handled via alternate methods.
Classroom Benefits:
  • Flexibility in locating students for classroom projects – no longer tied to set physical locations

Student/Financial Record-Keeping Software

Status
Student Records

  • integrated grading and other web-based parental access to information
  • canned reports that can be modified

We have purchased and are implementing Skyward effective with the 2007-08 school year. Not all functionality will be available on day one. As soon as practical, we’ll start to implement the parent portal and will add features to it as they are implemented.
Financial Records

  • interface that is relatively easy to learn
  • extensive report functions
  • date-driven so that changes can be pre-dated or post-dated and processed properly

In December, 2007 the Board approved the contract for the IFAS software from Sungard Bi-Tech. Implementation will be phased, and is expected to take 12-18 months to complete.
Classroom Benefits:

  • Improved access to student information and assess progress
  • Integrated ability to publish information directly to students and parents

Expand Storage Area Network (SAN)
Improve Disaster Recover (DR) Capability

Status
Our previous storage device did not accommodate all of our storage needs and was still at 97% of capacity (where 90% would be considered “critical” and 80% “high”). Key objectives are: Ongoing – we regularly evaluate the use and adequacy of network storage.

Expand network storage

 SAN expanded from 2TB to 30TB.

Improve backup for recovery of inadvertently deleted or corrupted files

 Initial objectives met.

Simplify data storage maintenance

 Initial objectives met.

Offsite (e.g. FSHS) UPS-protected mirroring, facilitating system uptime and disaster recovery

 “Bare bones” backup SAN purchased and in use – will be expanded when DR site is built (targeted for 07/08 school year)
Classroom Benefits:

  • Improved system reliability and recoverability to minimize instructional downtime in the event of a disaster
  • Minimize system loss of work that may have required hours to produce

Network Management

Status
A strong, centrally managed network is key to providing district-wide computer service and to cost-effectively managing that environment. As such, it is paramount that the network be reliable, easy to manage and well-monitored. Items to be improved include: Ongoing – we constantly work to improve network reliability.

Network monitoring hardware/software

 Ongoing. We continue to evaluate tools to address specific monitoring needs.

Improved network management software (i.e. replacement for Novell/ZenWorks)

 LanDesk was implemented at the start of the 07/08 school year. We're in the process of removing Novell Desktop from client machines.
Classroom Benefits:

  • Improved system reliability & stability – greater uptime means more instruction time
  • Proactively spot problems before they impact performance