Fayetteville City Schools

Three-Year Technology Plan

 

 

 

May 30, 2003

Revised June 25, 2003

 

 

 

Prepared by

 

 

 

 

Brad Luna

Technology Coordinator

 

 

Janine Wilson

Assistant Director of Schools

 

 

Joel Hastings

Federal Programs Director

PROCESS ELEMENTS

 

1.  Needs Assessment

 

The Tennessee STaR (School Technology and Readiness) Chart provides a means for plotting where a school’s technology/readiness comes with respect to four key areas of technology and development.  The four key areas assessed are Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Administration and Support Services, and Infrastructure for Technology.

 

A STaR chart was completed at each school in the district and these charts serve as the basis of our needs assessment.  The highest level in each criterion on this chart is a reasonable goal for each school.  Consequently, the need in any given criterion is the difference between the current assessment and the highest rating for that criterion.

 

The Fayetteville City Schools’ needs assessment information is summarized on the E-TOTE Evaluation System Survey, a copy of which is included in this plan.

 

In addition to the information provided through the E-TOTE evaluation system, requests for hardware, software, and other services are made through a technology committee at each school.  After needs are prioritized the requests are processed by the technology coordinator and the supervisor of instruction.

 

1. 2. Stakeholder Involvement in Planning

 

The Fayetteville City School System involved diverse stakeholders in the development of this system-wide technology plan.  The stakeholders are listed below.

 

Doug Fitch, Fayetteville Public Utilities

William Askew, Retired NASA Official

Mary Jane Porter, Parent

Dr. Tom Young, Retired Technology Coordinator

Carolyn Denton, Director of Chamber of Commerce

Alice Palacio, Parent

Barbara Vannatta, Principal of Ralph Askins Elementary

Steve Steelman, Principal of Fayetteville Intermediate

Ron Perrin, Principal of Fayetteville Jr. High

Joel Hastings, Supervisor of Federal Programs

Brad Luna, Technology Coordinator

Dr. Janine Wilson, Assistant Director of Schools

Rickey Shelton, Supervisor of Special Education, IDEA, and ELL

Sandy Stout, Teacher (FIS)

Peggy Thompson, Teacher (FJHS)

Lacey Carter, Teacher (Askins)

 

3.  Timeline

 

2003-2004

• Staff development training to include basic computer skills and effective use of productivity tools to enhance instruction in line with
  Tennessee Standards and Benchmarks
• Training for teachers to use system website to post information so parents can reinforce at home the instruction received at school
• Installation of network servers in each school
• Acquisition of smart boards and other projection devices

 

2004-2005

• Develop a technology trouble-shooting inservice for all teachers and staff members who use system technology
• Upgrade all hardware more than six years old
• Continue to provide and expand staff development activities to include training in use of state standards

 

2005-2006

• Staff development based on current needs assessment

• Evaluate and upgrade equipment as technology evolves
• Encourage all teachers to use the system website and email to effectively communicate with parents

 

4.  Responsible Parties

Brad Luna, Ed Tech Director and Dr. Janine M. Wilson, Assistant Director of Schools, will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the technology plan.

 

CONTENT ELEMENTS

 

5.  Vision Statement

 

Stakeholders of the Fayetteville City Schools realize that students must be able to use technology to achieve in a rapidly changing world.  Our vision is to develop life-long learners who are technologically literate.

 

6.  Goals, Objectives, and Strategies

 

Fayetteville City Schools’ goals and objectives are aligned with the performance criteria of the Tennessee Instructional Technology Plan and the Tennessee Instructional Technology Standards.

 

Goal 1:  All students will be educated in learning environments that have access to educational technology used in support of academic achievement.

Indicator:  The number of schools in which all students are able to work from networked computers.

Objective:  The student-to-computer ratio in all schools will be at least less than 4 students per mid/high capacity computer with a refresh cycle established for every 5 years by 2005.

Strategy:  Title II D, E-rate, and local educational agency funding will be committed to increasing student to computer ratio.  For the past 5 years, the LEA has appropriated on the average of $50,000 per year to purchasing and upgrading technology and informational systems.  Our system receives approximately $6000 in Title II D funds and another $6000 in E-rate discounts.  Due to the small amounts from these two sources, without funding from the LEA we would not be able to advance technology in our school system for our students and teachers.

 

Goal 2:  All students will demonstrate technology literacy by the end of 8^th grade.

Indicator:  The percentage of students demonstrating grade appropriate literacy in technology.

Indicator:  The percentage of schools with advanced patterns of student technology.

Objective:  The percentage of students across all grade levels demonstrating grade appropriate literacy in technology through authentic assessment measures will grow by 10% each year.

Objective:  The percentage of schools demonstrating advanced patterns of student use of technology will grow by 12% each year

Strategy:  Teachers will increase the number of assignments that require technology use.

Strategy:  Teachers will be required to develop and maintain a portfolio that will include authentic technology assessments.

Strategy:  Summer technology camps will be funded through extended contract to offer advanced use of technology to students.

 

Goal 3:  All students will be taught by teachers qualified to use technology for instruction.

Indicator:  The percentage of schools in which teachers are using technology for instruction.

Objective:  The percentage of schools whose patterns of teacher use of technology is Advanced will grow by 12% each year.

Objective:  The percentage of schools in which classroom technology use is integrated into subject area will grow by 12% each year.

Objective:  The percentage of schools in which the impact of technology on the teacher role and collaborative learning achieves the Advanced level will grow by 12% each year.

 

Strategy:  Staff development activities will increase each year through the use of the Intel Teach to the Future program.  The system will select teachers to participate in the Teach to the Future program and become “Master Teachers”.  Each Master Teacher will recruit teachers in their building to participate in this training.

 

Strategy:  Extended contract funds will be allocated to teachers to do after school technology training.

 

 

Objectives will be measured by the annual on-line School Technology and Readiness report submitted by each school.

 

 

7.  Collaboration among Educators

 

Due to the size of the Fayetteville school system (3 schools, approximately 70 teachers, 3 librarians), collaboration among all district educators takes place several times during each school year.  In addition, the librarian in each school will work closely with each teacher to promote and enhance the curriculum through the use of the library information center.  Librarians will also train teachers and collaborate with them to provide supplemental activities and research opportunities for students.

 

Administrators and educational technology staff will facilitate staff development activities which will encourage collaboration among all district educators.

 

8. Collaboration with Our Community Partners

 

Again, due to the size of our system, collaboration within the school community is much easier than in a larger system.  Surveys are sent to both parents and community members from each school to facilitate the school improvement process and to determine areas for improvement.  A technology component is included in each survey.  The results of these surveys are analyzed and used for planning purposes for all programs.

 

We recognize that effective implementation of technology requires support from and interaction with our stakeholders.  At each school, committees composed of various community partners and parents will meet with educators regularly to discuss implementation of the plan.

 

Through the student handbook of each school, parents will be advised of the system/school website and how to access information.  Teachers will post homework, projects, and other pertinent information to help parents reinforce classroom instruction. In a recent survey of parents, over 70% of our students have access to computers and Internet at home.  Email addresses are posted on each school’s website for teachers and administrators.  In addition, teachers make students and parents aware of websites that reinforce learning.

 

9.  Curricula and Teaching that Integrate Technology

 

Curricula are driven by the most current Tennessee State Standards.  All staff development activities provided by Fayetteville City Schools are research-based and also based on information regarding best practices in teaching.  The integration of technology for the improvement of academic achievement as shown in the three-year timeline above will be a strategy included in staff development.

 

10.  Increasing Accessibility

 

An on-line service/assistance/work order request system was implemented at the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year for the technology and maintenance departments.  All employees have access to the system via the Internet.  The technology requests are prioritized so that student learning is least affected.

 

All central office personnel, principals, assistant principals, teachers, librarians, guidance counselors, students, secretaries, bookkeepers have access to the Internet, multi-media work stations, networked printers, and networked file server for school-related documents and files.

 

The Fayetteville City Schools plan is to increase the student-to-computer ratio in all schools to 4 to 1 by the year 2006.  Only middle to high capacity computers will be included in this ratio.   Title II D, E-rate, and LEA funds will be used to purchase computers and network infrastructure equipment.  Since all 3 of our schools are considered to be high poverty level, the funding will be distributed equally among the 3 schools.   At the present time, the Fayetteville City System has no schools identified for improvement or corrective action under Section 1116 of Title I.

 

Infrastructure is an important key in increasing accessibility so that this plan may be fully implemented.  The infrastructure will be upgraded as newer services and technology becomes available.

 

11.  Equity

 

The Fayetteville City system has only one Pre-K through 3^rd school, one 4^th-6^th school, and one 7^th-9^th school.  All schools have basically the same poverty level.  For example, the low income family percentage for 2002-2003 was as follows:

Ralph Askins Elementary: 46%

Fayetteville Intermediate: 40%

Fayetteville Junior High School: 33%

District wide average:  40.21%

It should be noted that the Fayetteville City School District is the only system of the South Central Title I region that qualified for Title VI Part B, Subpart II-Rural and Low income school program.

 

By virtue of the system’s structure, equity is not a problem.  All three schools have the same access to technology and information resources for all students and educators.

 

12.  Professional Development

 

Administrators will be encouraged to attend Administrator Technology Academies as provided by the Tennessee Educational Technology Association.

 

Each year the technology coordinator and his assistant will conduct technology training for all professional employees with a focus on integration of technology into classroom instruction and improvement of teacher competency in educational technology.  A minimum of one day of inservice will continue to be devoted to these activities.

 

As required by federal law, at least 25% of the Title II Part D funds must be spent on staff development.  An outside consultant will be hired, if possible, to insure that “ongoing, sustained, and intensive high quality professional development” for core content teachers is maintained.

 

Due to the size of our system, the technology coordinator and his assistant will rotate daily to each school to assist teachers in improving student achievement in a standards-based environment.

 

A monthly technology newsletter will be provided to each teacher to encourage the use of the most current researched based information available regarding the integration of technology to enhance teaching strategies and curricula.

 

13.  Budget

 

Title II, Part D Funding

As required by federal law, 25% of the remainder will be reserved for staff development.

The remaining Title II, Part D funds will be used in conjunction with E-rate and LEA funds to purchase, training, hardware and/or software.

 

E-rate Funding

The Fayetteville City Schools participate in the E-rate program for telecommunications only.  Funds received through E-rate will be used to purchase hardware and/or networking equipment.

 

The LEA (Fayetteville City) funds educational technology primarily through local funds.

 

14.  Interoperability

 

All networking systems are connected to the Internet and allow for instant access to all locations.  We are standardized with Windows-based computers and can share information from student-to-student, student-to-teacher, teacher-to-teacher, and teacher-to-administrator.

 

15.  Leadership

 

Each administrator will be encouraged to attend the Administrator’s Technology Academy.

 

The school board, central office and building level administrators encourage the use of technology in the classrooms of all schools to enhance teaching and learning and the use of technology as a communication tool.   Teachers have been trained to use a number of interactive websites to assist in effective curriculum development and use of innovative teaching strategies.

 

The technology department will continue to develop programs and assist teachers

in effective educational technology integration to achieve the goals and objectives.

 

16.  Review of Policies and Procedures

 

The Fayetteville City School Board has both an employee and student Acceptable Use Policy in the Board Policy Manual.  A copy of this policy is distributed to parents and students at the beginning of each year.  Employees, parents and students are required to sign an agreement to adhere to the guidelines of the policy.

 

In addition, the system meets the requirements for CIPA Compliance.

17.  Evaluation

 

Dr. Janine Wilson, Assistant Director of Schools and Brad Luna, Technology Coordinator will review the E-TOTE evaluation data annually to determine progress toward goals and objectives of this plan.