Garden City Technology Task Force Status Report

Board of Education

January 7, 2014

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Charge of the Task Force

The District Technology Task Force is charged with identifying trends in technology and determining their potential impact on Garden City Public Schools. The Task Force will evaluate the current status of technology in the School District, conduct research, review mandates, identify best practices, estimate costs, suggest possible funding mechanisms, assess return on investment, and will recommend strategies, plans, and policies for Board of Education consideration.

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Technology Task Force Committee Members

Bellovin, Audrey Principal, Hemlock School Hepworth, Brad English Teacher, High School Melikian, Rita Technology Director, Administration

Boyle, Carol Ann Deputy CIO, Adelphi University Highfill, William

Social Studies Teacher, High School Metzdorf, Ashley

Math Teacher, Middle School

Calemmo, Margaux Librarian, High School Infranca, James Special Ed Teacher, High School Moss, Allison

Special Ed Teacher, High School

Cascio, Elena Curriculum Coordinator, Science Keenan, Edward Community Member Nuzzi, Marie

World Language Teacher, High School

Celano, Fino Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Administration Kenney Christine Teacher, Homestead School Pinou, Tom Board of Ed Trustee

Christel, Gina Director, Guidance Knight, Catherine Public Information, Administration Pollitt, Kevin Teacher, Stratford

Conforti, Judith Teacher, Stewart School Kuster, Lois Librarian, High School Prendergast, Teresa

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, Administration

Eustondo, Donald Community Member Lavelle, Lauren Teacher, Stratford School Stano, Michael Science Teacher, High School

Fealy, Nicholas Student, High School Mage, Mathew Student, High School Steingruebner, Kevin Assistant Principal, High School

Feirsen, Robert Superintendent of Schools, Administration Maguire, Lauren Teacher, Stewart School Turner, Marc Community Member

Fuller, Ruth Special Education Assistive Technology Specialist Mannion, Patricia Science Teacher, High School Voelker, Cheryl PTA, VP of Technology

Galano, Pat IT Manager McGovern, Kathlin Student, High School Wheeler, Catherine Director, Pupil Personnel Services, Administration

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BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)/ Social Media: •Review other BYOD and social media policies to develop BYOD and Social Media Use District Policy •Investigate and recommend social media sites used for educational purposes •Update District AUP to reflect social media uses

Digital Content: •Select a classroom management platform •Research cost of e-textbooks vs. traditional textbooks •Explore online vendors for home instruction and credit recovery •Identify potential topics and strategies for professional development

Technical Advisory: • Review proposed wireless network infrastructure •Analyze technology budget and present future estimates •Review current District technology status •Examine IT current support structure and make recommendations for the future

Technology Task Force Committees

Wireless Project Update • Completed all cabling and installation of wireless

access points

• Completed the configuration and programming of all the access points and the controllers

• Beginning in January, there will be pilot groups testing the wireless network

– First, with district-owned wireless devices

– Then, will continue with a phased roll out of BYOD for the remainder of 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years

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Status of Infrastructure

• The network infrastructure is the backbone of all technology that is currently used or is going to be used

• A well run, well maintained and updated infrastructure has the biggest impact on the user experience every day

• The expectation for network and software application availability has become 24/7 – Power outages impact the availability

• Every form of technology – including our newly created wireless infrastructure - sits on the network and cannot function without being connected to it:

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Servers

Internet

Firewall Solar panels

Switches

WAP B M S

Electronic signs

Point of Sale Door locks

Assistive tech

Web filtering

60 Software Applications

Device Selection & Social Media Subcommittee

Calemmo, Margaux Librarian, High School

Celano, Fino Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Administration

Conforti, Judith Teacher, Stewart School

Feirsen, Robert Superintendent of Schools, Administration

Highfill, William Social Studies Teacher, High School

Infranca, James Special Ed Teacher, High School

Knight, Catherine Public Information, Administration

McGovern, Kathlin Student, High School

Melikian, Rita Director of Technology, Administration

Metzdorf, Ashley Math Teacher, Middle School

Nuzzi, Marie World Language Teacher, High School

Steingruebner, Kevin Assistant Principal, High School

Wheeler, Catherine Director, Pupil Personnel Services, Administration 7

Recommendations Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy

• Personally-owned devices will be registered with the district

– Permitted to access web- based applications only through the wireless network

– No access to resources on the local area network (for example “My Documents”)

• Students will be permitted to access only the school’s secured network through personal devices

– During school day, access to private networks (3G, 4G) will be prohibited while on school grounds

• Only one device will be allowed per student

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Recommendations: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy

• BYOD privileges will be extended to grades 5-12

• It is not a requirement that students bring their own device to school

– Students not bringing a personally-owned device will be able to utilize school equipment

• Personally-owned devices are the responsibility of the student, not the district

• District will not troubleshoot connectivity issues as long as the network is running and working properly

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Recommendations Social Media Policy

• All social media/BYOD usage will be in compliance with:

– Federal, state and local laws

– Board of Education Policy

• Policies apply at all times – on school grounds, transportation, field trips, or when completing a school assignment

• Social media policy applies to all grade levels

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Recommendations Social Media Policy

• Social media sites are to be used for educational purposes: – Instructional – Extra curricular – In accordance with program goals – Usage will be faculty-directed

• The following free social media sites are recommended to be used for educational purposes: – Edmodo – Twitter – Google: Google drive, YouTube

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Digital Content Subcommittee Bellovin, Audrey Principal, Hemlock School

Boyle, Carol Ann Deputy CIO, Adelphi University

Cascio, Elena Curriculum Coordinator, Science

Christel, Gina Director ,Guidance Fuller, Ruth

Special Education Assistive Technology Specialist

Hepworth, Brad English Teacher, High School

Kenney Christine Teacher, Homestead School

Kuster, Lois Librarian, High School

Lavelle, Lauren Teacher, Stratford School

Maguire, Lauren Teacher, Stewart School

Melikian, Rita Director, Technology

Moss, Allison Special Ed Teacher, High School Prendergast, Teresa

Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction

Stano, Michael Science Teacher, High School 12

Findings

• Online resources contain valuable tools that provide anytime, anywhere access to users, yet they also represent an ongoing expense of renewing subscriptions

• Hardcover textbooks have longer shelf life compared to the e-text book model of limited time subscriptions – paid upfront vs. annual fee

• Emerging applications include

web based vendors that provide online services for credit recovery and home instruction

Instructional Applications

Conclusions

• More staff development is needed to support technology integration in various formats:

– “Rediscovering” existing applications

– Using free, recommended web-based resources

• Cost of e-textbooks have major budgetary implications

• Edmodo proved to be the most cost-effective (free) and easy to implement classroom management platform

Recommendations

• Edmodo (free, online) as the district-wide classroom management platform: https://www.edmodo.com/

• Google Drive and Docs (free) for creating, sharing and saving documents and DropBox for storing and sharing documents

• Video capture technology to post short lessons and tech tips

• Summer Technology Institute for K-12 teachers that culminates in creation of technology infused lessons or products

• Opportunities for grade-level/building-based Professional Learning Communities and Collegial Circles

Recommendations

• Collaborate with Adelphi University School of Education, whose students will assist our teachers in integrating technology in the classroom

• Use iTutor.com as home instruction/credit recovery service

• Continue to monitor cost effectiveness of using e-textbooks & digital subscriptions

• Continue reviewing online assessment applications to conduct on-going and adaptive assessment based on student performance

• Hire a full-time technology integration staff developer to assist staff in integrating and implementing technology

Technical Advisory Subcommittee

Elustondo, Donald Community Member

Fealy, Nicholas Student, High School

Galano, Pat IT Manager

Keenan, Edward Community Member

Mage, Mathew Student, High School

Melikian, Rita Director of Technology

Pinou, Tom Board of Education Trustee

Pollitt, Kevin Teacher, Stratford School

Turner, Marc Community Member

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Findings • The district-wide technology budget has not changed for several years

– An increase will address the need to stay current

• Current technical support system has no tiers – Highly technical and basic tasks are handled by same staff

• Software applications have two models: – Perpetual licenses with an ongoing maintenance fee

• Higher costs upfront but lower the subsequent years

– Web hosted, subscription model • The cost remains the same with minimal annual increases

• More applications are moving to the web hosted, subscription model where the cost of the subscription remains high

• The BYOD program will have an impact on the management and support of the network and all its users

• Intermittent power outages at the administration building (the location of the data center) affect the ability of all users to do their jobs

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Conclusions

PARCC Related Expenditures

Implementation of PARCC assessment was postponed to spring of 2016

– 1100 Laptops @ 600 = $660,000

• Charging carts $45,000

– Increased Internet Bandwidth 100 Mbps for HS and 200 Mbps for District = $45,500 annual increase to WAN cost (current $96,000)

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Recommendations

• Hire technology aides for each school • Can be accomplished over a number of years

• Increase the technology budget to address immediate needs for staff development and PARCC (if and when it goes into effect) – for acquiring laptops that will be used both for testing and every day use

• Create a “GC Tech Squad” made up of High School tech savvy students who can help troubleshoot BYOD user issues in the High School

• Create a Google+ Community made up of students and staff, for posting technical questions and tips – https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/103197535703849476465

• Create tech tip videos for troubleshooting and fixing problems • Take advantage of low rate financing options to spread costs of

technology upgrades and replacements over longer time periods

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Device Life Cycle

• Life cycle upgrades are based on physical End of Life (EOL) and/or the need to upgrade to newer technology:

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3-5 year life cycle 5-7 year life cycle

1600 PC – Upgrade 300 a year 105 Switches

150 Laptops & tablets – Upgrade 50 a year (as we add to the number of laptops, the upgrade

needs will increase)

10 Routers

63 Servers (16 virtual, 47 physical) – upgrade 5-7 a year

280 Projectors - 10-20 a year (40-50 bulbs replaced at $300)

320 Printers - 30-40 a year 292 Wireless Access Points (WAPs)

2 Wireless Controllers

3 Firewalls

System Applications Administrative Applications Instructional Applications Symantec Backup Exec

Lefthand Storage

SchoolTool

Aesop Online

Castle Learning

Method test prep

Smartnet licenses

Userlock Classroom Mgmt

Sharpschool Symantec Protect Suite

IEP Direct

Reading

Scantek

Network Mgmt

IP Phone software & licenses

ISE & Prime Wireless Monitoring

Atlas Curriculum Mapping

Naviance & Guidance Direct

School Dude

Microsoft Office Suite

Network Management

Microsoft Licenses

Symantec Ghost Solution

Global Compliance Network

Destiny Library Systems

Brain Pop

Science probes

PA & phone Messaging

Virtual Desktop

Security Certificate

Remote Access

Custom Typing

Human Kinetics (Fitnessgram)

Go Math

Smart Music

District-wide Applications

Technology Budget Estimates (items in red are Tech Task Force recommendations)

Items 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018

PC $40,000 325X$500 =$162,500

300X$500 =$150,000

300X$500 =$150,000

300X$500 =$150,000

Laptops and tablets $65,000 240X$600 =$144,000

750X$650 =$487,500

50X$650 =$32,500

50X$650 =$32,500

Servers $150000 none 8X$4500= $36,000

4X$12,000= $48,000

5X$24,000= $120,000

Other – switches, projectors, printers, firewall, controller, WAPs

$280,000 $75,000 Can range $50,000 -$100,000

$100,000 $75,000 Switch refresh

Additional wireless licensing (3 year subscription)

$24,000 500 licenses $10,890

1000 licenses $21,450

500 licenses $10,890

$21,450

Diesel generator $330,000

WAN, Internet & phone $286,000 $200,000 If PARCC $245,000

$200,000 $200,000

Staff developer $100,000 $102,000 $104,000 $106,000

Summer Technology Institute $50,000 $50,000

Technology aides (4 over 3 years) $120,000 $184,000 $250,000

Software $220,000 $250,000 $285,000 $285,000 $300,000

Finance payment $135,000 $135,000

Total Budget – WAN, Internet hardware/software, staff development

$1,065,000 $1,127,390 Includes generator $1,457,390

$1,481,450 No PARCC $949,450

$1,079,390 1,179,950

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THANK YOU!

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