Small+Group+Feedback+Responses+to+Questions

**October 1, 2008 ** **Small Group Feedback and Responses to Questions (10-24-08) **    §  **Where is retraining funding for educators coming from? ** Since bonds cannot fund training, this will come from our operational budget.  §  **Can any of the current technology be used for training or elementary buildings? ** Some of the current technology can be used for training; however, many of the computers are too outdated to run the newer operating systems or software and the current bond will replace approximately 25% of our existing computers  §  **Will there be a significant commitment from general budget for professional development & software upgrades? ** Since the bond cannot fund professional development or software upgrades, the funding for these items will have to come from the operational budget.  §  **Will COWs (computers on wheels) be staffed? ** These will be taken into individual classrooms and it will be the responsibility of the teacher who has checked out the equipment to manage the technology. Once the COWs are brought back to the media center, someone in the technology department will ensure they stay operational. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Is there a plan to fund “new” technology in 5 years? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">There are two ways to fund “new” technology in 5 years – either through the operational budget or another bond issue. The best way for school districts to fund large initiatives is through bond issues. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What are the ongoing maintenance costs? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Our consultants have projected approximately $53,000 in ongoing costs to support the expenditures from this bond. This includes an allocation for refreshing the computers that are purchased five years from now. <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What is the funding for software licensing? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Since bonds cannot fund software licensing, this will come from our operational budget. However, the initial operating system license can be purchased with the computer and funded by the bond issue. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What support will be coming from the Trenton Educational Foundation? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">It is too soon to determine the level of funding from the foundation since there are many competing needs for support. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Has the district thought to partner or seek assistance from Microsoft, IBM, Apple, etc? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-corporate grants <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-DTE, Chrysler, etc… <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-government grants <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-federal, state aid/funding <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The district is very interested in alternate forms of support and our consultants are knowledgeable in this area as well. However, we encourage anyone with connections into these organizations to seek assistance on our behalf. With the current economic conditions, we anticipate fewer funds available and more competition for those dollars. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What is the intention to change the curriculum with the new technology? What is plan to use new technology for innovative applications? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This will be part of the discussion for the overall 3 year technology plan to address how curriculum will change and what innovative uses can be integrated into that curriculum. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Why cost of $35,000 in WAN for administration? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The total budget for the WAN was split evenly among each of the buildings. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Will wiring be done for voice system even if equipment is not purchased until later? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The current plan will provide the infrastructure for the voice system, i.e. cabling and network equipment which will allow the district to implement a VoIP system in the future. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Are we taking advantage of any current equipment? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">We will look to repurpose or reuse current equipment wherever possible. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Door access – how will this work? What doors? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The intent of the door access security is to limit the doors that staff are able to use during off hours. In this way, we can monitor the flow into and out of the building. This also means that only certain doors will have door access readers and only certain doors will be open during the day for students, parents, and other community members to use. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Have teachers been polled on how they use their computers? Needs may be different which would change costs. ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">We have not conducted a survey but the technology coordinator and curriculum director who are knowledgeable on staff use of technology have been involved with developing our plans. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Keyless entry – is this essential – at the cost of no money toward student oriented technology ($69,000)? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Security was part of our bond application with the state in not only technology but building changes to allow for more secure entry into our building so that we can provide the safest environment possible for our students and staff. However, should our bidding result in savings compared to our estimated budget, the excess funds will be available to put toward student oriented technology. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Secure space on server for each teacher to save confidential information ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This is currently available to our staff and we will continue to provide professional development to ensure that everyone is aware of this function. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">What services do we want the server(s) to manage? (Email, etc.) Student/staff storage of work needs to be accessible from home. Needs to be more reliable and easier to use. We rely on flash drives. **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This will be discussed and taken into consideration prior to going out to bid for servers and prioritized against the available budget. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Problem of server crashing. ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This is why we allocated a portion of the budget toward replacing the existing file server environment. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">How do we minimize the cost of technology to Taylor Elementary in light of current enrollment trends? Why money for fiber optic ($35,000) at Taylor; why on list at all if it will be closed? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">We have separated our cost by building and intend to delay our purchases for Taylor until a decision on the future of that building is made. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Pull ahead media center labs §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Elementary MCs need some new student stations §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">More computers on wheels for students (2 responses) §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Additional computer projectors for classrooms (2 responses) §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Building/district – “loaner” machines (currently many frequently requests) §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">32 stations for students vs. teacher peripherals such as ELMOs, data projector, screens, jump drives §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Add additional phone lines – provides more parent contact §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">LCD at front entrance that highlights students/curriculum §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Increase quantity of laptops by purchasing “thin client” (32 <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"> è  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> 150) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Network deployment seems well thought out §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Student management system (current Zangle versus web based Power School) §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Wireless ideas/use in lab/classroom/media §  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Increase in technology for teachers = increased need for student access
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Technology Committee **
 * <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Training/staffing **
 * <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Funding **
 * <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Technology planning/current bond plan **
 * <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Taylor **
 * <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Alternatives and Additional Areas to Fund **
 * <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Other Comments **