Jocelyn Humphries

Director of Technology

Phone: 845-229-4004

Fax: 845-229-4018

E-mail: tech.director@hydeparkschools.org

Technology REPORT March 2005

           The technology budget proposal contains a request for a 4.58% increase in funding. 

 

           In 2004-2005 we used lease purchase to acquire the bulk of the equipment.  This year, the technology budget carries forward the lease purchase payments from the prior year, ongoing fees for support and network maintenance, the current level of in-house staff, and a modest increase to maintain our student-to-workstation ratio and maintain the current level of outdated workstations.  This modest increase will enable us to purchase approximately 1/2 of the computer hardware that was budgeted for in 2004-2005.

 

           The plan calls for an upgrade to the high school library to allow for implementation of a research curriculum.  Replacement of the CAD lab will enable the students to use the most up-to-date software and will allow us to use those machines as replacements around the district for the oldest computers that will die next year.  In addition, the high school science department will get 1 laptop cart with 15 workstations to replace the broken and outdated equipment they need to use with probeware in lab classes.

 

           At the middle school level, we put in enough money to maintain the plan to replace 5 Macintosh computers per year in the technology rooms.  In addition, we would like to put in 1 laptop cart for a curriculum project at this level.

 

           At the elementary level, we have made no accommodation for additional or replacement equipment.  However, we intend to focus our software dollars in this area.  We are in the process of reviewing software for selection of products to be used at each grade level.  Next year, we will work to train teachers in the new K-5 Computer Skills Rubric and in the new elementary software products.

 

           In terms of infrastructure, we will attend to the environmental problems in our main file server closets by installing clean and cool air conditioning systems.  Some dollars will go towards upgrading our backup battery systems—as they are beginning to fail in large numbers.  We will be bringing our web site in-house so that we can have much greater flexibility for distributing and collecting information with staff, parents, and the community. Additionally, we will build out the wireless network at FDR HS.