Appendix I: 4J Five-Year Information Technology Plan

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Appendix I: 4J Five-Year Information Technology Plan

Executive Summary

We have chosen the title "Information Technology Plan" to indicate the inclusion of both administrative and educational uses of technology within the plan. This 1998/1999 - 2002/2003 Information Technology Plan (The Plan) details progress the Eugene School District has made since our 1991 Plan and the needs that still remain or have subsequently arisen. The Plan ties closely with our Eugene School District 4J Consolidated District Improvement Plan (CDIP), which in turn is based on improving student achievement through high content and performance standards. The plan also ties closely with the individual Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) Plans developed by each school.

Background Information

Eugene School District 4J, a district of 18,000 students, is diverse economically, with 12 elementary schools (of 24) designated as Title 1 schools. The district places an emphasis on parent and student choice in education and has an open enrollment policy and 10 alternative programs.

The creation of this plan involved eight steps, including reviewing the Consolidated District Improvement Plan and the 1991 Technology plan and discussing new objectives and action plans with stakeholders.

The Eugene School District has partnered extensively with other educational institutions, public entities and private businesses over the last several years.

Eugene School District’s technology vision, direction, and mission all derive from the district’s core precept: "Investing in Students. . . Creating the Future."
Current Status

Thanks to the 1992 GO Bond which allocated $9 million for technology, Eugene School District has made great strides toward key directions identified in 1991, including the areas of computer access, knowledge creation and representation, ease of use, and networking. Yet critical needs in the areas of hardware, software, training and networking still exist.

A staff needs assessment returned by over 90% of staff identified levels of staff technology knowledge and skills. Thirty-seven percent judged themselves less than proficient in basic computer skills. Seventy-two percent judged themselves less than proficient in email and networks. An updated version of this assessment will be administered again during the 1998-99 school year.

The district has widespread networking and telecommunications capacities. Every classroom has at least two data outlets and one phone outlet. All classrooms have telephones.

The district has 2,500 Macintoshes and 1000 PC compatible systems connected to the Wide Area Network. As a result of district licenses, ClarisWorks, Eudora Pro, EBSCO (on the web), Britannica (on the web), and World Book (on networked CDs) are widely used. Additionally, Symantec Inc. has provided free licenses for many of their products including Norton Utilities, Norton AntiVirus and Symantec Antivirus for Macs.

In spite of all that has been accomplished through GO Bond funds, there are great needs in the area of software, staff development, and integration into curriculum. In addition, we still have not come close to achieving a student to computer ratio that we feel is optimal for classroom teaching. Most experts believe this ratio should be four to five students per computer. A looming threat is the need to replace obsolete technology in an era when bond funding of technology is prohibited.

Staff development is provided by the Computing and Information Services Department, Lane ESD, the OPEN Clearinghouse and teachers in their own buildings. Classes focus on using computers as tools including word processing, databases, graphics, spreadsheets, World Wide Web, telecommunication skills, as sources of research and information using networked and web based encyclopedias and magazine databases, and as World Class Teacher Training, which focuses on teacher creation of Cybercourses.

Information Technology support staffing includes Computing and Information Services (CIS) front-office staff, a CIS Library Services Group, building-based Teaching and Learning with Technology Teams, a CIS Information Systems group, a CIS Network Services group, and a CIS Tech Services Group. At the primary level we have developed a cadre of students to assist with technology call Technology Assistance Program by Students (TAPS). Most secondary schools have created and trained groups of students to assist with technology.
Applications of Technology to Support the Consolidated District Improvement Plan

The district will use technology to accomplish a number of administrative and management goals and initiatives embedded in the Eugene School District 4J Consolidated District Improvement Plan, including:

Provide technical assistance and technology support to school groups, for leadership and governance

Expand connections with business and industry to provide more opportunities for students

Assist metropolitan development of coordinated technology training to increase access and use

Increase and improve access to electronic information

Analyze student achievement data including disaggregated data and Title 1 assessment data

Develop a plan and budget to design a standards-based assessment and reporting system

Integrate technology into instruction

Create Web-based teaching and learning materials

Provide training support for teachers to use a standards-based curriculum and assessment system

Provide training support for teachers to use instructional methods to meet a wide variety of student needs including equity and cultural diversity

Implement integrative instructional approaches

Provide additional alternative learning options for students

Technology Design

Software and hardware priorities in the district focus on the Student Information System, Business Information Systems, the district-wide library system, upgrades to network infrastructure, communications and information access, and desktop computing.

Needs include:

· A Student Information System (SIS) that is databased, flexible and web accessible

· A Library Information System (LIS) that adheres to standards for storage and retrieval

· Hardware that is compatible with both the SIS and LIS

· Substantial increase of the Wide Area Network to keep pace with increasing capacity demand

· Communication and information access software that adheres to industry standards

· Machines with additional capacity to support new communication and information access software

· Continual upgrading of software for desktop computing

· Continual replacement and upgrading of desktop computers, printers, and other peripherals

· Improving the student to computer ratio

Information Technology Implementation Action Plan

Implementation of this Plan’s vision and commitments, already underway, will continue according to the schedule laid out on pp. 24-26 with modifications as required by budget developments and technology advances.
Monitoring and Evaluation of the Information Technology Plan

The plan will be monitored by stakeholder groups on a annual basis including the Instruction Department, Computing and Information Services Department, Instructional Policy Council, and the District Technology Council. At the building level, monitoring and formative evaluation will be part of regularly scheduled building interaction with CIS technology support staff. Schools are encouraged to review and update technology plans (Teaching and Learning with Technology [TLT] Plans) on an annual basis. Over the next five years, CIS will provide an annual report to the School Board and the District Technology Council as well as to building administrators and school site councils. These reports will be posted on the district website. The Information Technology Planning Team will provide a major update of this plan biannually.

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