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Natick Public Schools Technology Update January 14, 2008

Natick Public Schools Technology Update January 14, 2008. Dennis Roche, CISA Director of Technology. Technology Update January 2008. Goals Accomplished On-going Technology Risks and Concerns Plans for 2007 - 2008 School Year Plans for 2008 - 2009 School Year Recommendations.

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Natick Public Schools Technology Update January 14, 2008

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  1. Natick Public SchoolsTechnology UpdateJanuary 14, 2008 Dennis Roche, CISA Director of Technology

  2. Technology UpdateJanuary 2008 • Goals Accomplished • On-going Technology Risks and Concerns • Plans for 2007 - 2008 School Year • Plans for 2008 - 2009 School Year • Recommendations

  3. Goals Accomplished • Backend work identified in July 2005 Technology Audit 98% complete. • Remaining upgrades scheduled for this year: • Natick High School - February break • Ben-Hem Elementary - April break • All student and faculty data centrally stored and protected. • Robust internet access now in place with reliable ISP. • New Student Information System Implemented (IPass) • New School Notification System in place (ConnectED) • New District and School Websites Developed • Last site being developed Natick High School

  4. Summary of 2006 - 2007 Results

  5. On-Going Technology Risks and Concerns • Main Computer Room (NHS): • HVAC Systems not on Emergency Backup Generators. • No Fire Suppression System. • Lack of adequate Alert System. • Pending Projects: • Email Archiving - Compliance Issue • Library Circulation Systems - Unsupported platform. • Technology Training of Faculty and Staff. • Technology Funding.

  6. Plan for 2007 - 2008 School Year

  7. Plan for 2007 - 2008 School Year • Student Information System - Continue working with the vendor IMG and faculty & staff on learning and implementing system: • Implement new student and faculty ids at NHS • Implement new standardized report cards at High School and Middle School levels • Utilize all attendance functionality including ConnectED integration. • Utilize and train faculty on grading module.

  8. Plan for 2007 - 2008 School Year • ConnectED • Load with student and faculty data and train administrators on its use. • Student contact information now automatically fed from our Student Information System to ConnectED daily. • Training with administrators scheduled in January.

  9. Plan for 2007 - 2008 School Year • Website Development • Complete Phase II, - School Websites. • Final School website is Natick High. • Conduct review of all school sites • Begin planning for Phase III • Discuss and plan with faculty and staff after phase II is complete.

  10. Plan for 2007 - 2008 School Year • Network Projects • Natick High School • Migrate users at Natick High off town network to: • Alleviate bottlenecks on town hall. • Improve performance at Natick High School. • Maintain security of sensitive applications. • Re-segment building to improve network performance. • Ben-Hem Elementary • Re-segment building to improve network performance.

  11. Plan for 2007 - 2008 School Year • Hire a Technology Trainer • Reclassify existing open technology position. This role was identified and presented in original long range technology staffing plan back in 2005. • Resource dedicated to training the faculty and staff on how to use technology and integrate into the curriculum. • Reduce our dependency on outsourcing the training of faculty and staff. • Someone who will learn and teach others how our software applications work. • Develop and schedule workshops with teachers and staff throughout year. • Re-enforce and remind teachers of technology resources available to them. • Assist with Help Desk resolution of issues.

  12. Long Range Technology Staffing Plan

  13. Plan for 2008 - 2009 School Year

  14. Plan for 2008 - 2009 School Year • Student Information System • Pilot parental access • Web Development • Phase III of Web Project - Teacher Pages • Expand electronic payment options • Intranet development • Eliminate unnecessary paper oriented processes. • Stop using email as a filing cabinet

  15. Plan 2008 - 2009 School Year • Email Project • Investigate and scope out: • Upgrade or replace email system • Archiving solution • Library Circulation System Project • Investigate and scope out: • Alternative web based systems

  16. Plan for 2008 - 2009 School Year Need for Annual Replacement of Technology Equipment • In the past, this may have been funded when surplus funds were made available at the end of a school year or when a new school building was constructed or major renovations done. • Unfortunately these events don’t happen often enough to support the needs of Technology as the average age of computer equipment within the Natick Public Schools is currently 8 years.

  17. Plan for 2008 - 2009 School Year Need for Annual Replacement of Technology Equipment (Continued) • 1,500 computers used within the district average 8 years of age and are prone to various hardware failures. • 500 of these computers run on an unsupported platform: • No support from hardware or software vendors • No new development or fixes of software bugs • No support for interactive websites (ones that utilize Flash, Active X or Java)

  18. Plan for 2008 - 2009 School Year Need for Annual Replacement of Technology Equipment (Continued) • Our newest school, The Wilson Middle School, has computers that are 4.5 years of age and has already started to experience a reduction in machine count due to hardware failures.

  19. Plan for 2008 - 2009 School Year Need for Annual Replacement of Technology Equipment (Continued) Three areas of technology to review and address each year: 1. Classroom Technologies • Computers, printers, scanners, Interactive White Boards, Projectors & AV Equipment, Administrative & Curriculum Software. 2. Wiring Closet Devices • Routers, switches and cabling. 3. Computer Room Devices • Servers, storage, security & backup devices and proactive monitoring tools.

  20. Technology Funding • Current annual funding for technology in FY08 is limited to an operating budget of $139,432 for the entire school district. This is allocated from the School Department’s operations budget for FY08 which is $8,927,630. • This level of investment in technology pays for internet access for all schools, hardware and software agreements essential to run the network and minor repairs for failing equipment. • THIS BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE: • Annual maintenance needs of recently added or expanded systems. Estimated need of $47,000. • Annual replacement of technology equipment. Estimated need of $400,000.

  21. Annual Maintenance Needs of New or Expanded Systems • Need $47,000 to cover annual maintenance of: • New Student Information System IPass $25,000 (Transfer from town budget) • New School Messaging System ConnectED $17,000 (Add) • Expanded use of Eutactics System by Special Education $5,000 (Add)

  22. Annual Replacement of Technology • Need $400,000 each year to replace 20% of our Technology Equipment: • Classroom Technologies • Wiring Closets • Main Computer Room

  23. Budget Recommendation for FY09

  24. Recommendations • Reclassify Open Position for Technology Training & Support. • Expand Technology Department’s Operating Budget by $447,000 to cover additional annual maintenance costs and implement annual replacement plan.

  25. Questions or Comments

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