Technology Plan

Arenac Eastern School District

200 Smalley Street
Twining, MI 48766
989 867-4234

District # 06010
Technology Plan

7-1-2003 to 6-30-2006

The Arenac Eastern School District Technology Plan was developed in cooperation with the Bay Arenac ISD.

A committee developed the Arenac Eastern site-specific plan. Members are Sean McNatt (K-12 Principal), Irene Reed , Mark Rajewski, Cindy Nichols, Victor Bugni, Barb Hunter, (Teachers), Candace Thomas (Media Specialist) Allan Pauly, (Counselor), Dan Reeves, Kathy Clark, (Parents) Bryan Diroff, (Computer Technician) and Dr. Linda Olson (Superintendent).

Questions may be directed to: Bryan Diroff, 200 Smalley Street, Twining, MI 48766, (989) 867-4234 ext. 1051,
techsupport@arenaceastern.org

The URL for viewing the plan is www.arenaceastern.org.

MISSION

It is the mission of the Arenac Eastern School District to assist students in their quest to demonstrate proficiency in life skills by providing a balanced curriculum that includes instruction in academic, social, emotional, physical and thinking skills.

Objectives:

All students that graduate from Arenac Eastern Schools will:

	Continually strive to maintain high self-esteem.
	Be academically and psychologically prepared for life-long learning.
	Possess the process skills of thinking, problem solving, communicating and goal setting.
	Possess the ability to interact with others successfully and meaningfully.
	Be responsible for themselves.
	Be productive and contributing citizens of community, country, and world.

District Introduction:

The Arenac Eastern School District in 2003 had 402 students in our K-12 program. The district is located near Lake Huron in northern Michigan and is primarily a farming community. Over 50% of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch. The district has thirty teachers. All grades are located on one campus. The district also provides a preschool program for Arenac Eastern School District and the AuGres School District.

The administration has worked with staff, students, community members and board to develop district goals.

The goals focus on two areas

Remove the Obstacles for a Coordinated K-12 Curriculum:

	Continue to review and update the curriculum based on the Michigan Curriculum Frameworks, anticipated future needs of the learner, continuous improvement, and researched based best practices.
	Provided for staff development to support the curriculum.
	Facilitate access to the library.
	Seek staffing patterns that support the unique educational and emotional needs of the early adolescent.

Develop a Sense of Pride:

	Teach respect for self and others, and property.
	Maintain the building to a high standard of quality that supports a learning environment and promotes a sense of pride.

Over the past several years the district has received several grants. These grants have supported staff development, curriculum development, school improvement, assisting students at risk, assistive technology for special needs and technology staff development, curriculum planning , technology support and special grant funded opportunities.

Facilities and Resources

Arenac Eastern School District is located at 200 Smalley Street in Twining, It is a K-12 building and the common facilities such as the library, cafeteria, gymnasium are shared by all students and staff. Ample lawns, fields and playgrounds, provide an inviting space for outdoor activities and athletic events surround the campus. The woods on the perimeter further define the country setting. The building itself has a long history. The central part was part is the original structure. That was extended to the north to create added space for the high school. About 1990 an elementary wing and a gym with additional athletic facilities was added. The additions were well planned to give the exterior of the building a uniform appearance with the brickwork. Several roofing projects have upgraded the roofs.

New roofing materials were also put on the adjacent science building, a new heating and cooling system was installed, classrooms were wired for Internet computer labs, electrical was added to support these added demands. A technology literacy grant provided computers for two classroom labs, and the district purchased new furniture to support the technology additions.

As part of the Bay Arenac ISD, Arenac Eastern School District is able to access videos on demand from a huge REMC library. This is accomplished from their recent technology leadership providing us with some of the latest technology. From our computers we can go to the web site and select the video of our choice and show it to a class with large-scale projection or one student can look at it on a computer screen.

In 2003 we converted our ITV system to a polycam, which can be mobile and bring classes or fieldtrips to individual students or an entire classroom in any classroom in our facilities.

A 2003 technology grant helped us convert two elementary classrooms to a library/computer lab, purchase wireless units and replace the existing computers in the high school lab with new models. The high school lab computers will then move to classrooms.

Technology Belief Statements

We will support this mission by:

Creating a dynamic, reliable infrastructure.

Providing seamless and efficient technical support to students, staff, and the infrastructure.

Providing the necessary equipment and tools to access global and community resources.

Training staff and students to effectively and ethically utilize technology.

TECHNOLOGY GOALS

The technology goals are:

Finances

Infrastructure

Equipment and Software

Staff

Support

Professional Development

Evaluation

Communications - AE

Each of the technology goals is detailed in an action plan accompanying this document. The plans spell out specifics of hardware, software, evaluation, persons responsible, and timeline for implementation, and other pertinent details.

Technology Interoperability

It is the commitment of the BAISD and each of its LEA technology partners to insure that all technology purchased in the future is compatible with existing technology infrastructure, equipment, and software. A complete description of the technologies and the related details is included in the attached goal action plans.

Curriculum Integration

Each acquired technology will be integrated into the curriculum in two key ways:

BAISD and each of its constituent local school districts have begun a process of ISD-wide curriculum development. The four core curriculum areas are completed as. As the curriculums being mapped, technology and career and employability standards/benchmarks were integrated into grade/course level outcomes as appropriate.

Each local school district has made that process a requirement for all curriculum development. Local curriculums are written for keyboarding, Internet and computer skills.

That process will continue in all future curriculum work with the ISD-wide consortium.

Technologies are also integrated into the curriculum through the work of three BAISD instructional technology specialists who train teachers individually, in their classrooms, and with their students on the use of various technologies to implement specific curriculum content. Each specialist works in local school district classrooms to assist teachers use the technology and use it for the purpose of teaching curriculum content. In the fall additional staff development will be offered the elementary staff to assist them in the use of all the new equipment.

Acceptable Use Policy

Arenac Eastern’s board policy addresses acceptable Internet use.

Goal 1: Staff, Professional Development, and Technical Support

All staff will receive the resources, support, and training to utilize technology.

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
To continue or expand system competencies and individual discipline competencies integrating technology. Develop common expectations/basics using grade quick, groupwise, CIMS, Report Cards, Integrating Standards and Benchmarks into the report card system, Single Student Data Record Base, word, cameras, etc.	BAISD –Instructional Support Specialist(s) AE K-12 Principal Secretaries Teachers	Ongoing	BAISD Courses	Cost of Substitutes ISD Technical Support, software Staff Development	Increased use of technology by staff with the curriculum and to manage their tasks. Use of technology to manage systems.
Integrate technology into the activities and assessments as we work on curriculum maps.	ISD Curriculum Director Principal Teachers	2003-2005	Staff Time	Cost of Substitutes	Teachers recognize and use technology as a tool for teaching curricular areas and for assessment.
Technical support during business hours by trained staff.	BAISD	Ongoing		Additional technical support person	Evaluation by LEAs Number of times used Function of system
Adult Literacy Services	BAISD	2003-2006 if state funded	State Funding	State funding	Access to services
To increase access to technical support staff.	BAISD Instructional Services REMC/Librarians	Ongoing	Additional tech support staff (on-demand tech support)	Local staff support	Increased time available to LEAs Evaluation
To share information in current technology using the Web or a newsletter.	BAISD Elem. Secretary All staff	Ongoing Ongoing 2004	Web	More practice	Teacher use of web

Goal 2: Finances

Secure adequate funding to provide leadership and technical support to maintain and update technology needs.

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Research for grant availability and foundation/business donations.	BAISD AE K-12 Principal	Ongoing	BAISD	Subscribe to newsletter, journals Internal sites available	Feedback List of identified sources Need matching funds
Disseminating grant writing information and foundation/business donations.	BAISD	Ongoing	Internet List Serve Printing	Subscribe to newsletter	Amount of information requested Survey Variety of grants written
Seek out grant opportunities to expand and or replace technology.	Superintendent Principal	Ongoing	Staff Time Consultants	Web access and related	Additional funds secured.
Provide grant writing information via teleconference and/or video conference to reduce cost.	BAISD	Ongoing		Teleconferencing equipment	Number of conferences provided Feedback Evaluation of company Survey

Goal 2 Continued

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Provide grant writing support.	BAISD	Ongoing	BAISD Budget BAISD Personnel Internet	Grant Research	Number of successful grants Feedback Survey
Coordinate federal, state and local resources to maximize impact	BAISD Director of Instructional Services REMC Director Program Staff Department Bookkeeper AE K-12 Principal	Ongoing	Time to analyze/coordinate resources	Program budgets Fiscal guidelines of various funds	Resources coordinated Effective utilizations of funds Goals of tech plan achieved
Update the community about grant funding on the progress of technology.	AE K-12 Principal	Ongoing	AE Newsletter AE Faculty Meetings AE Board Meetings	Marketing Local Media	Community involvement Member of media coverage

Goal 3: Evaluation

To acquire, analyze, and disseminate data to determine progress towards accomplishing each of the technology plan goals and their impact on student achievement.

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible		Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Examine MEAP Performance	Director / Instructional Services BAISD	Annually		None	MEAP Reports	Baseline Data Adequate Yearly Progress
Survey teachers on use of technology across curriculum and in meeting the national technology standards in each curricular area.	Research, Evaluation and Assessment Principals ISD Curriculum Support	Annually		$10,000	Staff Dev. Time	Alignment of practice to standards.
Expansion of course offerings, field trips or other distance learning enhancements customary.	Principal Counselor Teachers	Annually		Per course Per field trip	Dollars Organized access to courses, virtual field trips through the ISD or related	Virtual activities used to enhancing student learning and classroom activities.
Determine correlation of teacher technology usage level with level of MEAP performance.	Research, Evaluation and Assessment	Annually		MLPP Accelerated Reader Star Assessment ITBS	MEAP Surveys Added Math/Sci Courses	Baseline Data Positive Correlation
Analyze student progress on the standards and benchmarks through use of CIMS to track progress.	Principal Teachers	Annually		Cost of Substitutes Staff Time	CIMS Software ISD Support and Staff Development Staff Time	New Report Cards reflect student progress on the curriculum.
Analyze student attendance	CIMS Staff Student Records	Annually			CIMS Data CIMS Staff	Baseline Data Improvements
Survey technology reps from LEAs regarding infrastructure development—including hardware and software.	Associate Director /Technicians District Reps.	Annually		$10,000 Annually	Evaluative information	Updating/Maintained

Definition of Evaluation System: The process of obtaining feedback about infrastructure, funding, equipment/software, and staff to determine if each area is effective in working toward the technology mission.

Goal 3: Evaluation

Acquire information from students about the availability of technical performance of machine, quality of service, and
adequacy of resources and funding

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline		Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Distribute and collect customer comment cards. Student comment card.	BAISD Technicians BAISD Instructional Technology Specialists AV Repair AS 400 Staff		Mid Year End of year	Cards	Cards	Baseline Data Improve customer satisfaction 98% Return rate baseline if 50% return
Technology Integration preparation part of the follow up survey of graduates	Counselor ISD Principal		2003-2004	Cost of follow up survey	Survey Cost	Students adequately prepared in the use of technology to meet post graduation needs.
Filtering systems continue to be used or expanded based on concerns raised by staff and future advances in software.	Tech support Principal Tech Support		2003-2006	$4,000	$6,000	Teachers able to monitor appropriate student Internet access.
Acceptable use of technology policy is implemented and monitored.	Principal Teachers		2003-2006	Staff Time	Staff time	Student and staff respect acceptable use of technology, or loose privileges.
The acceptable use policy is updated if needed to meet any changes in federal or other regulations.	NEOLA Board of Education Administration Teaching Staff		2003-2006	NEOLA Updates	$1,500 per year update service	District is current on policies to meet current state and federal regulations.
Poll LEAs regarding adequacy of resources and funding allocated for providing leadership in technology.	LEA Tech Directors Associate Director/BAISD		Current Ongoing			Baseline Data Positive response Maintained/Improved

Definition of Evaluation System: The process of obtaining feedback about infrastructure, funding, equipment/software, staff and students to determine if each area is effective in working toward the technology mission.

Goal 4: Infrastructure

Expand local area network

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Install new server	Tech Support	2003-2004	Staff Time	Staff Time	New Computers operating smoothly, along with new server
Install mobile wireless units throughout building	Tech Support	2003-2004	$6,000	$6,000	Teachers able to use wireless carts in all classrooms without concern for moving wireless connections.
Pull additional wire and add switches to expand network	Tech Support	2003-2006	$30,000	$30,000	As additional computers are added to classrooms, access to the Internet is expanded.

Goal 4: Infrastructure

Expand WAN/LAN

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Install cable modems AE: Interactively with all classrooms	BAISD Charter Communications LEA Districts	Ongoing	No cost to ISD $130/month to LEAs	Cable modems Cable to buildings	Connectivity to ISD services
Develop a plan for student video production and newscasts. Implemented plan	AE Staff Technician	June 2004 June 2005	$10,000?	Money Information from other districts	Plan developed for implementation
Purchase Polycam to maintain distance learning opportunities	AE Superintendent	June, 2003	$7,400	Grant funds	Distance learning opportunities expanded
Provide digital video to the desktop	BAISD Alcatel	Ongoing	Continue to support and expand.	Money Training Knowledge	Video to desktops Teacher use
Provide digital REMC Video Library	BAISD FVC Alcatel Film/video vendors	Ongoing	$25K for BAISD Copyright permission	Money Training Knowledge	Videos delivered digitally
Replace computers, servers, etc. on a five-year replacement cycle.	Tech Support Superintendent	Ongoing	$40,000 per year	$40,000 per year	Continually upgrade and maintain technology equipment and infrastructure.
Continue to expand technology in the classrooms:	AE Superintendent	June 2006	Continue to add wireless units and palm units $100,000	Money $100,000	All classrooms connected and expanding use of computers by adding connections or use of wireless units
Continue to evaluate the use of assistive technology for special needs students	Special Ed. Staff Principal BAISD	Ongoing per student needs	Grants/General Fund	Est. $2,000 per year	Special needs students have access to assistive technology to help them be successful.

Goal 5: Equipment/Software

Establish standards for equipment/software purchase

Strategies to Achieve Goal	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Cost/Resources Used	Resources Needed	Evaluation Criterion
Conduct Workshops Demos Tech meetings Including community adult technology classes	BAISD AE Staff	Ongoing 2004	Vendor meeting Site visits Self funded	Vendor connections Equipment, facilities	Same purchases as established by the technology committee School as a community resource
Computer purchase Expand Ethernet WI-Fi Wireless access	AE Superintendent Technical Committee Technician	Ongoing 2003-2006	Grants/General Fund Additions / Replacement $20,000	Money Money	Upgrading and expansion of computers in the classroom Expanded use of newest technology
Netware/Bordermanager District filtering system	Technician	June 2004	$2,000	Money	Ability to filter student access to internet
Software / Classrooms IBM Compatable	Technical Committee Librarian BAISD Technical Support Teachers	Ongoing	$10K/Year	Money	Technology integrated in curriculum. Continually upgrade software to meet growing standards. All software in use in the district meets licensing requirements.

Budget

2003-2004

Salaries

Staff Development $8,000 per day 8,000

Purchased Services

Technical Support $22,136

NEOLA Policy Updating 1,500

Staff DevelopmentTravel and Expense 6,000

Staff Development Contracted Service 1,000

Supplies

Software 8,.000

Wireless Units 6,000

Video production equipment 10,000

Total $62,636

2004-2005

Salaries

Staff Development $8,000 per day 8,000

Purchased Services

Technical Support $24,000

NEOLA Policy Updating 1,500

Web based Policy Enhancement 3,000

Staff Development Travel and Expense 6,000

Supplies

Software 8,.000

Wireless Units 6,000

Added wiring support 10,000

Computer/infrastructure upgrades 40,000

Other Instructional supplies 12,000

Total $118,500

2005-2006

Salaries

Staff Development $8,000 per day 8,000

Purchased Services

Technical Support $25,500

NEOLA Policy Updating 1,500

Staff Development Travel and Expense 6,000

Staff Development Contracted Services 1,500

Supplies

Software 8,.000

Computer/infrastructure upgrades 40,000

Other Instructional supplies 12,000

Total $102,500

The above expenditures will occur from a combination of various grant sources and general fund.

Potential grant sources include but are not limited to:

REAP

Tech Prep

Ability to transfer state and federal funds within the consolidated application.

Career Preparation

Special Education Focus Fund

Special Education Capacity Grant

Gifted and Talented

At Risk