Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Sheffield, Massachusetts
Technology Plan
2007-2011
Benchmark 1
Commitment to a Clear Vision and Implementation Strategies
A. The district's technology plan contains a realistic and clearly stated set of goals and strategies that align with the district-wide school improvement plan, the elementary and high school improvement plan(s), and the Massachusetts recommended technology plan guidelines. We are committed to achieving this vision by the end of the school year 2009-2011.
The Southern Berkshire Regional School District is committed to providing students and staff members with the necessary technology tools in order to achieve the District's Mission and Expectations for Student Learning. We recognize that Technology and all that is implied, does not stand alone as a curriculum area. Technology is integrated throughout our organization at every level and every area. Our environment is one that requires staff and students to be engaged in utilizing the available tools of Technology to improve their teaching and learning. In order to support the District's Mission and Expectations for Student Learning the Technology Team will implement the following broad objectives over the 2007-2011 time frame:
1. Students will have access to the Tools of Technology at every grade level and at every school, with a goal of 1:1 this is to include laptops and desktops
2. All schools and classrooms will have unlimited access to the Internet and to the District's server base
3. All students and staff will have unlimited access to opensource e-learning portals.
B.The district has a technology team with representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups. The technology team has the support of the district leadership team.
1.The District Technology team is comprised of teachers, community members and administrative representatives
2.The District Technology team will meet throughout the school year
3.The District Administrative leadership team will review Technology developments on a monthly basis at their Administrative Council meetings in an effort to provide direction and assistance to the Technology team
C. Needs Assessment
1.The district assesses the technology products and services that will be needed to improve teaching and learning.
a The District will use formal (questionnaire) and informal (discussions at various stake holder meetings, ie teacher leaders, department leaders) methods to gather this information when working on a long range capital plan
2. The technology plan includes an assessment of the services and products that are currently being used and that the district plans to acquire.
- Programs (software, contracted services etc) that are presently in place are reviewed by the district leadership team as budgets are being discussed and programs are being reviewed.
D. The district has a CIPA -compliant Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) regarding Internet use.
1.The District has an AUP for students and staff
2.The District student and staff AUP are posted on the SBRSD home page
3.Internet safety classes will be held for students in the grade 5-8 span
4.Teachers will be trained in a "Train the Trainer" Cyberbullying program, so that the course can be brought back for interested teachers to bring to their classes
E. Budget
The district has a budget for its local technology plan with line items for technology in its operational budget.
1.The District will create a budget that supports the Technology plan as outlined for the 2007-2011 time frame
2.The District will provide for a Technology upgrade cycle that reflects real world advances in Technology, replacing desktops every five years utilizing refurbished desktops/laptops.
The district leverages the use of federal, state, and private resources.
1.The District will apply for all available Massachusetts Department of Education grants-appropriate to the Southern Berkshire Regional School District-in addition the District will apply for all available e-rate funds – erate funds will be used to supplant hardware and software needs and to reduce the overall cost associated with the basic phone service and the Internet access provided throughout the District
2.The District will apply for appropriate private grants as they become available and are in agreement with our Mission and Expectations for Student Learning
3.The erate application clearly states how the District will support non erated /non discounted portions of the technology budget-ie local funds and grant funds
F. Evaluation
The district evaluates the effectiveness of technology resources toward attainment of educational goals on a regular basis. Prior to purchasing, the district assesses the products and services that are needed to improve teaching and learning by working with the building principals and their staff, as well as the Central Office staff.
The District will evaluate the major aspects of Technology resources on a yearly basis, to include:
1.Online resources and Media/Library resources
2.Internet provider systems
3.Student Information systems
4.Student health information systems
5.Business office accounting systems
6.SPED information systems
7.School security/access systems inc automated calling system Alert Now
8.School internal broadcast information systems inc Telephony, voice mail systems, and video distribution
9.Server level software systems-including archival and tape/disk backup
The district's technology plan includes an evaluation process that enables the district to monitor its progress in achieving its technology goals and to make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.
The District will administer evaluations of their technology services-both formal and informal- to all stakeholders to include:
1.Teachers
2.Students
3.Administrators
4.Support staff
5.Parents
6.Community members
The District will evaluate the hardware and software needs at all levels and reapportion resources as needed -District wide.
Benchmark 2
Technology Integration and Literacy
A.Teacher and Student Use of Technology
Outside the Classroom
At least 95% of teachers use technology everyday, including some of the following areas: lesson planning, administrative tasks, communications, and collaboration. Teachers share information about technology with their colleagues.
Teachers will use the available Technology on a daily basis to:
1.Access the Inter and Intranet home pages for general announcements and schedules
2.Send and receive email
3.Post responses or initiate postings in discussion forums, as appropriate to their level, in a portal environment - blog or wiki
4.Retrieve, as necessary, curriculum maps and guides
5.Engage in online professional development through opensource e-learning portals.
B.Within the Classroom
At least 85% of teachers use technology appropriately with students each week, to include the following areas: research, multimedia, simulations, data interpretation, communications, and collaboration.
Teachers will use the available Technology with their students in the classroom and in the lab setting to:
1. Create, write, save and print word processed documents
2. Engage in content-grade level-specific learning activities in opensource portals ,as well as VHS resources
3. Engage in the various applications-Web based and Desktop based appropriate to their level
C.At least 85% of students from grades 5 to 8 show proficiency in all the Massachusetts Recommended PreK-12 Instructional Technology Standards for Grades 5 to 8.
1.The Massachusetts Recommended PreK-12 Instructional Technology Standards will be implemented at the Gr. 5-6 level and at the Gr. 7-8 level as defined in each level(s) curriculum
2.Students at the Grade 8 level will be assessed at the midway point of their respective Technology "Specials" areas
D.At least 90% of teachers are working to meet the proficiency level in technology, and by the school year 2009-2011, 60% of teachers will have reached the proficiency level as defined by the Massachusetts Technology Self-Assessment Tool (TSAT)
1.All teachers will complete a TSAT or ISTE online self assessment to establish a 2007-08 baseline
2.Teachers will create their Professional Development plan taking special note of their Technology needs as identified in their self assessment
3.Teachers will take the self-assessment on a yearly basis
E.Staffing
The district has a full-time equivalent (FTE) district-level technology director/coordinator.
1.The District Technology Coordinator/Director has several shared responsibilities-Instructional technology-maintenance and Repair-Data management and network management
2.The District recognizes the need to increasing support in the following areas-Classroom based instructional technology-District level data management
The district provides one FTE instructional technology teacher per 40-80 instructional staff.
1.The District has instructional support for classroom integration reaching the 40:1 level utilizing a .5 technology Integration Specialists position, the District Technology Coordinator/Director as well as student interns
The district has one FTE person dedicated to data management and assessment.
1.The District will have the equivalent of .5 FTE whose responsibility will include the day-to-day management of District and School level data as well as assistance from the District Technology Coordinator/Director
Benchmark 3
Technology Professional Development
A.By the end of the school year 2009-2011, at least 85% of district staff will have participated in 45 hours of high-quality technology professional development covering technology skills and the integration of technology into instruction.
The District will provide Technology Professional Development to all staff utilizing the following formats:
1.Graduate level Technology courses
2.Online
3.One to one instruction
4.In-service days
5.After school, evenings, weekends and summer workshops
B.The Technology Professional Development opportunities will be offered in the following categories
1.Developing Technology
2.Proficient Technology
3.Advance Technology
C.Technology professional development is sustained and ongoing and includes coaching, modeling best practices, district-based mentoring, and study groups. The professional development includes concepts of universal design and scientifically based, researched models.
1.The Technology Professional Development will be sustained on a yearly basis with a dedicated allocation-financial and staffing, from the District professional Development budget
2.The Technology Professional Development will include coaching, modeling of best practices, mentoring and level or discipline study groups
3.Technology Professional Development activities will always include universal design when working on a particular related topic
D.Professional development planning includes an assessment of district and teachers’ needs. The assessment is based on the competencies listed in the Massachusetts Technology Self-Assessment Tool created by the Department of Education.
1. An assessment of teachers’ needs will be made annually in order to plan each year’s Technology Professional Development
2.Individual teachers Professional Development Plan will address their needs associated with their Technology Competencies
Benchmark 4
Accessibility of Technology
Hardware Access
A.Students per Instructional Computer
1.The district has an average ratio of fewer than five students per high-capacity, Internet-connected computer (2:1 on level b). The district will work with stakeholders to review the capacity of the computers on an annual basis. (The ultimate goal is to have a one-to-one, high-capacity, Internet-connected computer ratio.)
A.The District has a computer ratio of nearly 2:1 for type "b and c" computers-access to a LAN/WAN/Internet
B.The District will strive to have a ratio of 1:1 for type “b” computers-access to a LAN/WAN/Internet by 2009-11.
2.The District uses portable computing devices , laptops, for a one to one classroom and on a portable laptop cart.
- All technology in all curriculum areas is available to all students. If assistive technology programs or devices are needed they are provided to our classrooms/students.
- The District has a policy that ensures that the technology purchased works in our environment. In addition resources are equally distributed throughout the organization - i.e. elementary and high school as their needs change from time to time.
3.All technology in all curriculum areas is available to all students.
If assistive technology programs or devices are needed they are
provided to our classrooms/students.
4.The District has a policy that ensures that the technology purchased works in our environment. In addition resources are equally distributed throughout the organization –ie elementary and high school as their needs change from time to time.
5.The District uses Smart Boards at the elementary and high school levels,primarily in math classes, however other curriculum areas may use these devices as well (in the self contained classrooms)
6.The district has established a computer replacement cycle of five years or less.
a.The District will replace desktop computers at the staff and student level within a five-year replacement cycle using refurbished computers
b.The District will replace desktop computers at the administration level within a two-year cycle
B. Internet access
The district provides connectivity to the Internet in all classrooms in all schools including wireless connectivity, if appropriate.
1.The District provides 100% connectivity to the Internet from all classrooms in all buildings
2.The District will create wireless access on the New Marlborough and Mt Everett/UME Campuses
The district provides bandwidth of at least 10/100 MB to each classroom.
1.The District provides 10/100 MB access at the New Marlborough, and Mt Everett/UME Campuses.
2.The District will upgrade the wiring in the "one room" schools and add bandwidth when it becomes available
3.As computers are replaced, nic cards of 10/100/1 Gb will be included
C.Networking (LAN/WAN)
The district provides a minimum 10/100 MB Cat 5 switched network and/or 802.11b/g wireless network.
1.The District provides a switched network at the New Marlborough, Mt Everett/UME Campuses
2.The District will replace the CAT 3 wiring-where feasible or provide
upgraded wireless access to meet the higher bandwidth.
- The district provides services for secure file sharing, backups, scheduling, email, and web publishing, either internally or through contracted services.
4.The District has a secure Novell Network comprised of several servers, firewalls, etc
5.Email is provided to all staff and students at all levels
6.The District provides for the web publishing of student and staff work,
especially in the area of homework posting and classroom web pages
D. Access to the Internet Outside of the School Day
The district maintains an up-to-date web site that includes information for parents.
1.The District has an updated District web site at www.sbrsd.org
2.The District web site includes a variety of information pertinent to all
schools and levels
3.The district works with community groups to ensure that students
and staff have access to the Internet outside of the school day
4.The District provides a listing of all outside access points for students
5.The District allows students access to their computers prior to and after school, including evenings
- The District will provide community based access when requested
E. Staffing
The district provides a FTE network administrator.
1.The District will provide the equivalents of an FTE network administrator-through the technology directors position, technology integration specialist position and through contracted services
Technical Support
1.The district makes a commitment to provide timely in-classroom technical support with clear information on how to access the support, so that technical problems will not cause major disruptions to curriculum delivery.
2.The District will maintain a helpdesk during the regular school hours
3.The District will maintain a helpdesk that provides live telephone or pager responses for emergencies
- The District will establish Tech Coach at each building and or wing/level to assist with the tech support by the end of 2009-2011
The district provides at least one FTE person to support 100-200 computers. Technical support can be provided by dedicated staff or contracted services.
1. The District will provide one FTE /100 computers using present staff levels and student Interns
Benchmark 5
E-Learning and Communication
A.The district encourages the development and use of innovative strategies for delivering specialized courses through the use of technology.
1.The District uses Edline,MASSONE and VHS
2.The District encourages students and staff to make full use of the many opportunities for learning provided via the web.
B.The district deploys IP-based connections for access to web-based and/or interactive video learning on the local, state, regional, national, and international level.
1.The District has two Videoconferencing units capable of IP transmission-one unit is located on the New Marlborough campus, the other unit is on the Mt Everett/UME campus
C.Classroom applications of e-learning include courses, cultural projects, virtual field trips, etc.
1.The District has the capacity through hardware, software and bandwidth to provide for any e-learning course that is available or may become available
2.The District has lists of e-learning opportunities available to staff and students.
3.The District will provide for advanced e-learning courses, seminars and presentations for all levels where appropriate.
D.The district maintains an up-to-date web site that includes
information for parents.
1.The District has an updated District web site at www.sbrsd.org
2.The District web site includes a variety of information pertinent to all schools and levels
E. The District provides archiving of all electronic communications, email, for students and staff. Each of the AUP for staff and students references that their communications may become part of a public record.
