GREENFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Technology Plan
July 1, 2014-June 30, 2017
Working Draft January, 2014
(11/15/14)
Superintendent of Schools
Susan D. Hollins, PhD
Greenfield School Committee
Mayor William Martin, Chairperson
Maryelen Calderwood, Vice Chairperson
Francia Wisnewski, Secretary
John Lunt
Daryl Essensa
Donna Gleason
Margaret Betts
Technology Contact Person
Carol S. Holzberg, PhD
District Technology Coordinator
Email:
413.772.1322 (Direct)
413.774.7940 (fax)
Greenfield Public Schools
141 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
413.772.1300
District Web Site: www.gpsk12.org
Table of Contents
Background Information 1
Community 1
City of Greenfield Population 1
Greenfield Public Schools: Race, Ethnicity and Enrollment Data 1
Elementary Schools (3) 2
Middle School (1) 2
High School (1) 2
PreSchool (1) 2
Math and Science Academy – An Innovation School (1) 2
Substantially Separate Program (1) 3
District Mission Statement 3
Technology in the Greenfield Public Schools 3
Overview 3
Hardware and Software 4
Our Five-Year Metamorphosis 4
Technology Initiatives (2010-14) 9
TV Studios: 9
Annual Film Festival: 10
iPads in District 10
SIF Implementation 11
Part-time Literacy/Technology Teachers 12
Technology Professional Development Training 12
Acceptable Use Policy 12
District Web Site 12
Tighter Collaboration with the City of Greenfield 12
Technology Trouble Ticket System 13
Technology Department Staff 16
Technology Planning, Needs Assessment, and Progress Monitoring 2014-2017 17
Evaluation of the District Technology Plan 17
Evaluation of Technology Products and Services 17
Hardware Replacement and Upgrade Cycle 17
Recommendation 18
Technology Goals 2014-2017 19
Goal 1: Learning: Engage and Empower 2014-2017: 20
Considerations: Training and Technical Support 22
Goal 2: Assessment: Measure What Matters 23
Goal 3: Teaching: Prepare and Connect with 21st Century Resources 25
Goal 4: Infrastructure: Access and Enable 28
Goal 5: Productivity: Redesign and Transform 31
APPENDIX A: Computer Inventory 33
Computers by Count (as of November, 2013) 33
Computers by Age (as of November, 2013) 33
Standalone (Physical) Servers by Count and Age (as of July 1, 2014) 34
APPENDIX B: Acceptable Internet Use Policy Grades K-3 (Revised October 5, 2012) 35
APPENDIX C: Acceptable Internet Use Policy Grades 4, 5, 6, and 7 (Revised November 7, 2012) 42
APPENDIX D: CIPA Compliance 46
APPENDIX E: ERATE Related Materials and Documents 46
Materials and Services Procured through the E-rate Discount Program 46
Compliance with Chapter 30B of the MA General Laws 46
Funding for Non-Discounted Portions of Internet and Telecommunication Services 47
APPENDIX F. GREENFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2013-2014 Masterful Teaching in Greenfield 48
Greenfield Public Schools, Technology Plan 2014-2017 (Draft) Page i
Background Information
Community
The city of Greenfield is located in Franklin County, 85 miles west of Boston and 45 miles north of Springfield at the crossroads of Interstate Route 91, Route 2, and the famous Mohawk Trail. Surrounded by acres of fertile Connecticut River Valley farmland, Greenfield operates as the hub of commerce and culture in Western Massachusetts. Thanks to millions of dollars in recent private and public investment, the city’s Bank Row Urban Renewal Zone has turned historic downtown buildings into new storefronts and loft apartments. New initiatives include a regional transit center and proposed Amtrak service along the Burlington-New York-Washington corridor” (http://www.townofgreenfield.org).
The City is also considering the possibility of making crucial improvements to its Information Technology & Telecommunications capabilities. One project is that is being planned involves installing a fiber backbone to connect all departments for enhanced municipal inter-departmental networking and data sharing. Greenfield Public Schools would realize improved intra-district communications if all schools and the Central Administration building were interconnected on a fiber-based Wide Area Network.
City of Greenfield Population
The US Census estimates Greenfield’s resident population and income level as follows:
Quick Facts / Greenfield / MassachusettsPopulation estimate 2012 / 17,553 / 6,646,144
Per Capita Income for 2007-2011 / $26,229 / $35,051
Median household income 2007-2011 / $46,018 / $65,981
Source: (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25/2527100.html)
Although City officials are hopeful that new development dollars will improve local economic conditions, Franklin County as a whole remains depressed. As a result, 30 percent of city residents in 2009 had incomes below the poverty level, compared with 13.4% for the state (http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Greenfield-Massachusetts.html#ixzz2BkHzzZlW). These poverty levels in the county are reflected in poverty levels for students in the Greenfield Public Schools. On October 1, 2013, the District reported 62% of its total student population (1738) being eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch.
Greenfield Public Schools: Race, Ethnicity and Enrollment Data
Enrollment data for Greenfield students exhibits racial and ethnic diversity.
Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity (2012-13)Race / % of District / % of State
African American / 3.8 / 8.6
Asian / 2.1 / 5.9
Hispanic / 11.2 / 16.4
Native American / 0.3 / 0.2
White / 80.1 / 66.0
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander / 0.0 / 0.1
Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic / 2.5 / 2.7
Source: http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=01140000&orgtypecode=5&
Students in the Greenfield Public Schools are distributed across several school buildings, two innovation schools, and one substantially separate program.
Elementary Schools (3)
· Federal Street (197 students, 11/19/13), a school-wide K-3Title I facility;
· The Discovery School at Four Corners (226 students, 11/19/13), a school-wide K-3Title I facility operating as a theme-based Innovation School with curriculum focused on environmental studies, citizenship, and democracy); and
· Newton School (227 students, 11/19/13), a school-wide K-3Title I facility is the recipient of a Massachusetts Extended Learning Time grant for additional time every day to spend on core academics, enrichment (e.g., small group tutoring, homework help, music, arts, sports, physical activity, health and wellness, and project-based experiential learning) and teacher preparation /professional development;
Middle School (1)
· Greenfield Middle School, (410 students, 11/19/13) a school-wide Title I facility for grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 is the recipient of a Massachusetts Extended Learning Time grant for daily additional time to spend on core academics, enrichment (e.g., small group tutoring, homework help, music, arts, sports, physical activity, health and wellness, and project-based experiential learning) and teacher preparation/professional development;
High School (1)
· Greenfield High School (494 students, 11/19/13), a five-year comprehensive high school for grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
PreSchool (1)
· Academy of Early Learning at North Parish (111 students, 11/19/13). This integrated preschool is child-centered, organized, and tops in terms of developmental preschool education. The program is nationally-accredited through NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), serving children ages 3 to 5 with half and full day programming aligned with Massachusetts Preschool and NAEYC Standards.
Math and Science Academy – An Innovation School (1)
· The Math and Science Academy (93 students, 11/19/13) for students in grades 4, 5, 6, and 7 is an Innovation School operating as a program of Greenfield Middle School. Housed in a separate facility, it offers a full school program with an emphasis on acceleration in mathematics and science.
Substantially Separate Program (1)
· Poet Seat has evolved from an approved separate day school for adolescents with emotional disabilities to a Program administered by Greenfield High School. Located in an annex building at high school, its six students receive intensive support to meet their emotional and educational needs.
District Mission Statement
Each child’s success is our mission
Technology in the Greenfield Public Schools
Overview
In 2013-14, Greenfield Public Schools are completely data-driven and technology-based. Every academic or grade-level teacher has a classroom computer and interactive white board for instruction; every school has at least one computer lab; multiple classrooms have student computers to assist with small group instruction.
Every student in grades K-12 has a computer username and password for network or Internet access to student programs mentioned in this document. Administrators, faculty, and staff have both a computer network username and password and an email username and password. Parent logins are common for certain district applications such as PowerSchool (our electronic student information database) and Follett Destiny (our districtwide library management system installed for cataloguing and book-borrowing at each of our six (6) grade K-12 buildings.
Teachers are expected to integrate technology in daily instruction. We do our best to provide ongoing professional development and induction that includes use of technology resources and programs. In fact, in creating an internal guide to excellent teacher, we identified “use of technology tools the district provides” as one characteristic of masterful teacher in Greenfield.
#5 from Greenfield’s Administrators Guide to Masterful Teaching:
5. DISTRICT-‐PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS ARE USED: Evidence is seen that the teacher is making use of various curriculum and technology tools and materials provided by the district for instruction:
a. SMART Boards, computers, computer labs, specialized software programs, iPads and other devices, cameras, music instruments,
b. Teacher manuals, online lesson resources, virtual programs and courses,
c. Listening centers (elementary), online library, editing software,
d. District-‐adopted curriculum materials (varies from school to school)
e. Science equipment and materials, research centers
f. Manipulatives
Hardware and Software
Like other local communities, Greenfield has experienced financial difficulties and has had no windfall of funding that allows for large purchases of technology. What we have done each year is to clarify our goals, identify and pilot selected programs to benefit students and learning, discuss how to repurpose and update equipment, provide training for personnel, implement electronic applications, and collect data on usage and results. We consider annually if the pilot programs or initiatives should be expanded. System-wide programs are continued or discontinued based on discussion and consensus among all of our K-12 principals at team administrative meetings.
Our Five-Year Metamorphosis
In 2008, we prioritized SMART Board interactive technology, upgrading older student computers, and adding instructional software programs to support student learning. For the SMART Boards, we identified and prioritized funding, and began outfitting classes at higher grade levels, eventually making our way down through first grade.
By November 2013, five years later, we had purchased approximately 125 SMART Boards for classroom teachers in grades K through 12. Teachers use these boards for group instruction to share ideas and information and to involve students in learning with technology. Students like working on the boards because the technology requires active participation. Often teachers invite students to approach the board and share answers to questions or demonstrate a concept.
We installed 11 SMART Response clickers for assessment in classrooms around the district: high school (4 sets); elementary schools one (1) set each; middle school (4 sets). Math teachers at the high school already had 3 clicker systems in place from a grant. The teachers use the clickers to check for understanding and reinforce concepts taught in class. Clicker software which displays on the SMART Board allows students to see at a glance how many students have mastered the target concept and which students need additional review.
Each year since 2008, we have taken additional steps to purchase new computers for labs and teachers at our high school and middle school. We bring the newest computers to the oldest students—closest to going to college and into the work force, and update and repurpose the out-going high school computers to other schools. As of 2013-2014, we have working computer labs in every school and also have computer mini-labs in each of the six (6) school libraries.
Beginning in 2008 and each year since, we have considered software programs to support instruction and student learning. We are purposeful in our selection and weed out and add programs according to our budget and the observed benefit. In some cases we have annual fees per student and in some cases we purchase the program and have no additional costs. Our priorities have been increasing literacy and supporting the unique programs and interests of our teachers. These programs include:
· Accelerated Reader for reading engagement, motivation, personalized independent reading and skill acquisition; a few teachers used this program in 2007 but it is now built into our K-3 literacy technology programs and middle grade language arts programs,
· First in Math--game style activities to build and reinforce math facts for students in grades K through 3,
· NWEA Measures of Academic Progress, a growth model achievement measurement that helps teachers determine every student’s academic level in math, reading, and language use and whether or not each student is making progress during the year. Greenfield Public Schools piloted the NWEA skill screening in early 2010 in the Middle school. NWEA is used to screen student skills three times/year: 1) during the first six weeks of school to obtain a performance baseline for the year, 2) mid-year to see if all the students are making achievement gains, and 3) toward the end of the year to note full-year achievement gains. Results also detail student strengths and weaknesses, point out which skills and concepts each student finds challenging, and provide longitudinal assessment data for comparison. In addition, reports offer suggestions for instructional groupings and ways to tailor instruction for each child’s academic growth. Since 2011, we have implemented NWEA MAP skill screenings at all schools for students in grades 1-10. We expect to continue using this tool in 2014-17.
· Read 180 at the Middle School to strengthen the reading skills of our most impaired readers; this program enabled our Title I Reading teachers to increase both the number of students served and also the reading gains of our most impaired grade 4-5 readers,
· Star Reading to assess the reading levels of students and make reading suggestions for books they will read through Accelerated Reader,
· Sunburst Type to Learn 4 for keyboarding instruction—this is relatively new as we observe that our students have to learn keyboarding through a consistent approach and program,
· Study Island--an individualized Web-based homework support program that also provides MCAS practice in ELA and Math for students in grades 3-10; this is a relatively new addition and parents can use this at home.
Additionally we have a variety of programs that support or augment school courses and programs.
· Adobe Creative Suite 6 Master Collection at the High School to teach students the same tools and applications used by professionals who work in the fields of print publishing, photography, Web design, and film production.