Greenfield Center School
Technology Plan
July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2011

Click here to download a PDF copy of the tech plan

Click here to download a Microsoft Word copy of the tech plan

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Section 1: Background Information	Section 2: Vision and Mission Statements
Section 3: Overview of the Technology Planning Process	Section 4: Technology Assessment
Section 5: Technology Goals and Objectives	Section 6: Academic Objectives
Section 7: Technology Professional Development	Section 8: Hardware, Software and Network Stability
Section 9: Future Technologies (Projected Budget)	Section 10: Evaluation Process

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Section 9: Future Technologies (Projected Budget)

All classrooms are wired for network and Internet access. However, only administrators and staff are set up to save files to the file server. Installing a 5-workstation lab for students and teachers (with network access, network printer, scanner and Internet access) would be the incentive we require to implement a policy of students and teachers saving to their own password-protected server folders. Funds permitting, the goal is to implement such a lab configuration, in addition to installing 1 or 2 new computers in each classroom so as to lower the ratio of computers to students at the school.

For fiscal 2008-09 budget funding will enable GCS to purchase:

Description	Cost
.2 FTE Technology Coordinator	$13,000.00
2 AlphaSmart NEO keyboards and software	$500.00
1 desktop computer with monitor, speakers and DVD burner	$1000.00
Software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Co: Writer and Draft: Builder)	$500.00
Hardware maintenance	$500.00
SonicWall firewall maintenance and content filtering	$400.00
Total	$15,900.00

If additional funding can be secured through grants and other sources, we hope to purchase:

Description	Cost
10 iPods (Classic) with recording microphones and maintenance agreements	$3500.00
4 AlphaSmart NEO keyboards and software	$1000.00
Wired lab with 5 high-end network ready workstations; 1 LCD projector; 8 port switch and patch panel	$12000.00
1 Digital Camera, with accessories (media cards, camera-computer transfer cable, battery charger, replacement batteries)	$500.00
Color LaserJet (network) printer with extra round of toner	$3000.00
Overhead projector (LCD projection)	$2500.00
Network infrastructure improvements	$5000.00
Total	$27500.00

Materials and Services Procured through the E-rate Discount Program

With the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an Order in May 1997 creating the E-RATE program to ensure that eligible schools and libraries have affordable access to Telecommunication Services (local and long-distance calls), Internet Access, and Internal Connections (networking infrastructure and equipment). Under the program, schools receive discounts ranging from 20% to 90%. Based on calculations that take into account rural/urban status, total number of students at the school, and the total number of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program, the discount rate for Greenfield Center School is roughly 60%. That means that GCS is required to pay only $0.40 for every dollar spent on Internet and telephone service.

Funding for Non-Discounted Portions of Internet and Telecommunication Services

Thanks to the E-RATE discount program Greenfield Center School has received thousands of dollars in rebates and discounts over the last few years. We will continue to apply for E-RATE reimbursements and discounts for Telecommunication Services (local and long-distance telephone costs), Internet Access, Web hosting, and Internal Connections (networking infra-structure and related equipment) where applicable.

Our Operational Budget, however, includes line items to pay for the non-discounted portion of our Internet and Telecommunications service. Currently, we have technology funds earmarked for Internet access, hardware maintenance, Internet content filtering, and firewall maintenance. We also have an annual technology budget that pays for a .2 FTE (full-time equivalent) technology coordinator, hardware maintenance contracts, new computers, plus related hardware and software. Additionally, the school holds several fund-raisers each year to support classroom technology initiatives and to replace outdated computers.

The school’s Operational Budgets will continue to include line items for technology staffing, hardware, software, professional development, maintenance, support and contracted services, while leveraging the use of federal, state, local businesses, and private resources to meet technology budget needs whenever possible.

Maintenance Needs for New and Existing Equipment

The Greenfield Center School Technology Coordinator works .2FTE (Full-time Equivalent) at the school. She's on site each week to do regular maintenance on new and existing equipment, software installations, and general technology troubleshooting/mentoring as needed. In addition, she visits the site within 24-hours after receiving a telephone call or email request for tech support. If the requested support is a hardware problem that can be repaired on site, she does the work. If it's a computer that's under warranty, she calls the vendor for troubleshooting tips, parts, or an on-site service call as necessary.

When the Center School purchases new computers, it also purchases 3 or 4 year warranties for parts and labor. When those agreements expire, the Technology Coordinator secures support as needed for replacement or tosses the equipment as the problem warrants. Finally, the Center School has an ongoing maintenance agreement on its SonicWall firewall for hardware and content filter maintenance.

Budget Implementation Timeline

Hardware and software purchases are made early in the school year (September). After the equipment is set up and the software installed, teachers and educational staff receive professional development mentoring and training as needed. Teachers use the tools to support and enhance classroom instruction.

Projected software purchases over the next three years:

 

Software Budget Year 1: (2008-09)

Quantity	Description	Unit Cost	Total
1	Key Skills for Math: Basic Number Concepts (K-2)- Sunburst, Students develop number sense and basic operations (sequence, sort, count, group, linear measurement, basic fractions). Generates progress reports. #T07446, Lab 5	$160.00	$160.00
1	Key Skills for Math: Addition and Subtraction (Grades 1-3) Sunburst, Students build addition and subtraction skills with ten progressive practice and reinforcement activities. Assessment reports monitor student growth in basic addition and subtraction operations. #T07460, Lab 5	$160.00	$160.00
1	Key Skills Phonics Mastery K-1 (PreK-3). Sunburst. Comprehensive presentation of phonics skills with activities that align to MA standards; focus on the alphabetic principle--the understanding that there is a predictable relationship between written letters and spoken sounds. #T07422 Lab 5	$160.00	$160.00
1	Key Skills for Reading: Basic Word Concepts (Grades 1-2). Sunburst. Assessment reports on student Language Arts skills; difference between nouns and verbs, explore superlatives, match antonyms and synonyms, recognize and use contractions and common abbreviations, develop syllabication skills. #T07442 Lab 5	$160.00	$160.00
1	Destination Math Mastering Skills & Concepts I: Pre-Primary Mathematics PreK-1. River Deep. Designed specifically for non-readers; teaches basic mathematical concepts and skills. School Edition = 2 CD package	$499.00	$499.00
1	Destination Math Mastering Skills & Concepts II: Primary Mathematics Grades 2-3. River Deep. Building upon what they have learned in Mastering Skills & Concepts I, students extend their understanding of numbers and number sense, operations graphing, patterns, geometry, and measurement. School Edition = 2 CD package	$499.00	$499.00
1	Destination Reading Course I: Emergent Literacy and Phonemic Awareness PreK-1. River Deep. Uses a carefully structured whole/part/whole approach to reading instruction. Phonics, decoding, and comprehension skills in the context of a wide range of authentic fiction, nonfiction, and environmental text. Careful sequencing of reading and writing skill development so that each new skill builds upon prior skill learning, School Edition = 2 CD package	$499.00	$499.00
1	Destination Reading Course II: Building Fluency and Comprehension, Grades 2-3. River Deep. Uses a carefully structured whole/part/whole approach to reading instruction. Phonics, decoding, and comprehension skills in the context of a wide range of authentic fiction, nonfiction, and environmental text. Careful sequencing of reading and writing skill development so that each new skill builds upon prior skill learning, School Edition = 2 CD package	$499.00	$499.00
	Total		$2636.00

Software Budget Year 2 (2009-10)

1. Purchase software that supports and enhances the academic curriculum in reading, writing (language arts), and math.
2. Purchase software that facilitates graphics design and multimedia presentations.
3. Purchase software that supports the Elementary School's social studies curriculum.

Software Budget Year 3 (2010-11)

1. Reevaluate instructional software needs in language arts and math
2. Purchase additional software in language arts, math, and science based upon evaluation findings.
3. Expand software libraries in science, social studies, and the arts as needed.

Priorities for hardware purchases if funds permit are as follows:

Hardware Budget Year 1 (2008-09)

10 iPods (Classic) with recording microphones so that students can create audio presentations demonstrating how much they have learned.

4 AlphaSmart keyboards so that students can word process classroom and homework assignments; Keyboarding software is also included.

2 PC or Intel-Mac workstations with DVD burners for classroom use. These machines must be able to access the Internet, connect to the network, and handle sophisticated audio-visually enhanced multimedia applications.

Hardware Budget Year 2 (2009-10)

4 AlphaSmart keyboards so that students can word process classroom and homework assignments; Keyboarding software is also included.

2 PC or Intel-Mac workstations with DVD burners for classroom use. These machines must be able to access the Internet, connect to the network, and handle sophisticated audio-visually enhanced multimedia applications.

Hardware Budget Year 3 (2010-11)

2 PC or Intel-Mac workstations with DVD burners for classroom use. These machines must be able to access the Internet, connect to the network, and handle sophisticated audio-visually enhanced multimedia applications.

4 AlphaSmart keyboards so that students can word process classroom and homework assignments; Keyboarding software is also included.

Replace the School server

Page last updates: February 20, 2008