1. Mobile County Public School System District Technology Plan James Willcox Joanne Kline Yoko Nagashima

2. The District 95 schools and 4000 students 80 miles north to south 120 building sites 62% of students on free and reduced lunch $18 million a year in Title I funds High central office efficiency: 2.5 % admin rate Largest district in the state Wide statewide variance in size

3. MCPS Technology Timeline 1991: Initial district-wide plan focus on teaching and learning 1993: Revived and expanded of Technology Committee: included central office 1996-1997: State planning requirements 1997: Comprehensive District Technology Plan 1998: WAN to all schools complete 2001: Wireless network in progress

4. Impetus for Acceptance Start Point: Business needs/efficiency –Failing mainframes –Windfall $ from the state “with no strings attached” –New leadership Lifetime total cost not a main concern –Political support –Need + Funds + Politics = execution Combined need was key Net Day –Big support from Bell South –Early participant

5. Technology Plan Today: Finances Major support from the federal government –“E-rate is a godsend” High poverty district gets more e-rate $$ (wiring) Allowed shortened installation timeline (7 years to1) –Title 1 funds: $18 million Local foundation grants and corporate donations –Some grant support (10-30K/school) –Mainly Title I schools

6. Professional Development 30% of tech budget reserved for tech training Tech training/staff supports skills and integration Voluntary, focused teacher training: computer incentives Teacher tech literacy standards enforced –Coordination with credentialing programs/schools of ed Established standards for classroom tech integration –Measuring tech use in classroom (survey, observation, eval.) –1 st results pending Selection process of site IT team / tech teachers –Criteria: knowledge = job

7. Technology & Research Partners Partnership with USA –In-service teacher technology training –Insufficient research support UNC – software research –Publish info to teachers and schools

8. District Technology: 2001 District installation of wireless network (upgrade from T1) –Network overloaded by extensive use –Lower maintenance cost (included in package) –Lower installation/upgrade expense –Voice over network (savings over 150K / year) Classroom hardware standards –Minimum: 2 PCs –Goal: 4 PCs Super Computer Authority –Provides ISP services through the State of Alabama

9. Future Concerns Personnel Struggling with long term/ongoing costs of IT End equipment for distance learning Will E-rate continue? Tough tradeoffs in budget Site-based management issues

10. MCPS Decision Making Committee based decisions –school/teacher participation Lifetime costs de-emphasized Business and T&L needs combined Dependence on –Outside research/review –Federal funds Dedication to training/integration/standards

11. Policy Implications Long term support plans critical Flexible policy with accountability are key Alternative / worst case should be identified Reserve funds for training, integration, measurement Plan, execute, evaluate, update Coalitions / combined needs critical –Approval –Efficient use of tech / funds / sustaining support