Pennsylvania Department of Education
COMMONWEALTH
OF PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
333 MARKET STREET
HARRISBURG, PA 17126-0333
Educational Technology Report
Thursday, August
28, 2008
Entity: Mount Union Area SD
Address: 28 W Market St
Mount Union, PA 17066-1232
Phone:
Contact Name:
Core Purpose
Mission
The Mount Union Area School District prepares all children
for success and productivity in a global society by encouraging the fulfillment
of individual hopes and dreams.
Vision
During the next six years
the Mount Union Area School District will have:
In Program Development
- Solidified a pre-kindergarten program
- Implemented a K-12 technology plan
- Implemented a K-12 career development plan
- Implemented a K-12 character education program
- Developed a plan for and educated teachers for the
significant inclusion of special needs children in general education
classes.
In Professional
Development
- Implemented a continuous professional development plan
that is future focused and that supports program development
- Implemented a continuous professional development plan
that is driven by data based feedback loops.
In Curriculum
- Written and implemented a standards based anchor driven
curriculum in every discipline K-12
- Placed the curriculum on-line
- Developed consistent grade level and or department
syllabi for each course.
In Assessment
- Developed and implemented a process that monitors on a
regular basis the value added to each child's daily education.
In Individual Student
Focus
- Developed and implemented systems that insure each
child has a flexible, individualized education plan that, when
appropriate, identifies a career path.
In Leadership
- Identified the strengths of each leader
- Developed and implemented system that aligns
responsibilities and strength.
In Staffing
- Systematically developed and implemented processes for
hiring, inducting and out-counseling
In Instruction
- Developed and implemented, through our professional
development plan, a methodology for educating our staff K-12 in
differentiating instruction
- Developed and be utilizing systems that insure
decisions relating to instruction are data driven
In Facilities
- Design a long-term, future-focused facility plan that
includes pre-kindergarten along with enhancing curriculum and instruction
In Technology
- Automated all district libraries and be assessing book
circulation
- Integrated appropriate technology to insure safe school
environment
- Developed and be implementing an elementary technology
program supported with curriculum
- Provided software and hardware needed to
differentiate instruction in every classroom
- Explored additional advanced and remedial opportunities
through the use of virtual education
In Finance
- Created a budget development process that is
transparent and long-term focused
- Tapped alternative revenue streams via aggressive
pursuit of both entitlement and competitive grants.
In Community
- Developed programs and culture that focus on children
from birth to grade 12
- Put a plan in place to seek increased parent input and
support
- Explored and as practical opened our resources to the
community
- Created a plan to better engage community resource
person in service to the schools and students in service to the community.
Shared Values
Trust: Relying on the integrity, ability and character of
those around us and of our organization as a whole.
Respect: Honoring
ourselves and those around us, daily.
Compassion:
Recognition of the plight of others, coupled with an intense desire to help
them overcome it.
Ownership: Having
a stake or sense of self in the creation of and operation of our systems and
the fulfillment of our individual destiny.
Needs Assessment
The pace at which
technology changes makes it very difficult to know what is educationally sound
and what just sounds good as new products and services are pushed by
salespersons into the education market. As if the initial cost of technology is
not enough, the required professional development and support, licensing and
upgrade fees, or overall product abandonment create additional financial
burdens to school districts. We have continued to make progress in the purchase
of equipment identified to assist with differentiated learning and diverse
learners (digital projectors, interactive whiteboards, and student response
systems). Priority computer hardware is maintained and upgraded on a regular
basis, and we have managed to maintain software to keep pace with educational
and state requirements while providing needed information to the district and
the community.
Potentially useful
technologies are identified through attending technology group meetings at
Intermediate Unit #11, attending PDE sponsored technology conferences, and
through various technology and educational publications. We will continue to
rely on the local intermediate unit to provide high-speed network services for
internet access and potentially telephone services between buildings. These
services will provide improved communications between district staff and better
access to online educational resources.
The district has made
steady improvements in community, parent, and student access to educational
information through the district web site, online library management system,
and the online portion of the student information system. The primary weakness
identified by staff is continual professional development in the use of
technology which often suffers from available time periods, lack of funding,
and other concepts identified as a higher priority (e.g. PSSA testing). From
the parent/student perspective, denial of access to the student information
system based on student fines was a common complaint that has been reconciled. Most
parents and students appreciate the increased access to student course
assessment information and district educational information available through
the internet and district web-based applications.
Goals and Strategies
Goal: Data Communication
Description: Provide efficient and effective electronic data collection,
analysis, and communication between administrators, staff, parents, students
and the community.
Strategy: Data Coordination
Description: Bring together district office and building staff to
coordinate appropriate data entry processes.
Activities:
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Data
Efficiency |
Reduce
duplication of data entry through implementation of Schools Interoperability
Framework (SIF) software. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$15,750.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Data
Entry |
Coordinate
appropriate data entry assignments, support, and backup among district office
and building staff. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Data
Procedures |
Develop
business procedures for data entry and management on the various District
data applications. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
Strategy: Data Dissemination
Description: Continue to provide appropriate levels of information to
students, parents, staff, and community members with little to no interruption.
Activities:
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Online
Communications |
Encourage
parents and students during Open House, parent-teacher conferences, and
telephone communications to utilize the district’s online data
management systems (e.g. PowerSchool and Destiny Library) to keep abreast of
student achievements. Periodic student reports from PowerSchool and
communication with teachers can be achieved through e-mail. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$48,000.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Open
Information |
Eliminate
the practice of blocking student/parent access to PowerSchool and educational
assessments due to school-related fines. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Web Site |
Continue
to develop the School District web site and add useful information and links
to assist the public in staying informed regarding education in the district,
the state, and the country. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
Goal: Technology Education
Description: Provide quality technology education to students in regard
to an ever-changing world, new and advanced job skills, and computer network
ethics in a global society.
Strategy: Ethics, Safety, & Security
Description: Educate students in computer and network ethics,
emphasizing safe and secure use of existing and emerging technologies.
Activities:
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Ethics
Course |
Expose
all students to internet ethics, safety and security through integrated
classroom lessons, middle school exploratory course and/or specified classes
(Senior Project). |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Internet
Safety |
Implement
iSafe or similar internet safety program for students and the community to be
held in the high school auditorium. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Tonya DeVecchis-Kerr |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
Strategy: Hardware/Software Skills
Description: Continue to develop and enhance student education programs
that focus on skill training in the use of advanced technology in the form of
computer hardware and peripherals, audio-visual devices, and software
applications.
Activities:
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Online
Courses |
Develop
additional areas of technology study to include scheduling flexibility with
online learning. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Technology
Courses |
Continue
to offer courses in standard productivity software (word processing, desktop
publishing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation) and advanced technology
applications (CAD, multi-media design, programming, etc.). |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$0.00 |
Goal: Technology Integration
Description: Integrate technology into all facets of education to
enhance teacher presentations, increase student interaction, allow for greater
diversity in learning styles, and support District educational goals.
Strategy: Incorporate Technology
Description: Incorporate technology equipment for presentation and
instruction into regular education classrooms.
Activities:
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Classrooms
for the Future |
Utilize
Classrooms for the Future funds to integrate technology into the core
curriculum of high school classrooms. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$325,140.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
Effective
Technology |
Continue
to purchase hardware and software identified as effective in improving
education and learning in the classroom. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$420,000.00 |
Strategy: Training
Description: Continue to provide various options for staff professional
development in technology integration.
Activities:
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
After-Hours
Training |
Continue
to provide optional staff training during summer months and before and after
school hours. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$30,000.00 |
|
Activity |
Description |
|
|
In-Service |
Include
technology integration as a topic for teacher in-service and time-release
training. |
|
|
Person Responsible |
Timeline for Implementation |
Resources |
|
Kenneth Burton |
Ongoing |
$129,000.00 |
Staff Development
The District will utilize training resources provided by
IU#11, outside professionals, the Classrooms for the Future coach, and
proficient on-staff trainers. Opportunities for training will be offered
during planned in-service days, small group summer and after-school training sessions,
customized individual training sessions, IU#11 seminar offerings, and off-site
technology conferences. The District Technology Director will oversee on-site
training with assistance from Curriculum Director and building principals.
Certain professional development is required when planned as a new requirement
for all teachers within the district (e.g. replacing paper gradebook
w/ electronic gradebook), otherwise it is optional. Teachers receive Act 48
credit for any technology-related training, and future training may be a
contingency for receiving new technology purchases (e.g. CFF).
Federal (ABG, Reading First) and state (CFF) grant money as well as
district budgeted technology funds will be made available for technology training
during scheduled faculty in-service and optional after-hours
opportunities. Monthly technology meetings are held at IU#11 for
collaboration among districts in the region. Also, many institutions of higher
education are accessible for technology training with tuition reimbursement
provided by the district.
Budget
Summary: Potential
Funding Distribution
|
Funding
Source |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
2011-2012 |
Total |
|
010 -
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET |
$82,200.00 |
$84,200.00 |
$79,200.00 |
$245,600.00 |
|
050 -
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES |
$30,000.00 |
$30,000.00 |
$30,000.00 |
$90,000.00 |
|
340 -
REVENUE FOR TECHNOLOGY (EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER) |
$85,000.00 |
$87,000.00 |
$90,000.00 |
$262,000.00 |
|
TOTAL |
$197,200.00 |
$201,200.00 |
$199,200.00 |
$597,600.00 |
|
Goal: Data Communication |
|||||
|
Data
Coordination |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
2011-2012 |
Total |
Funding
Source |
|
Data
Efficiency |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
$3,600.00 |
010 -
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET |
|
|
|||||
|
Data
Dissemination |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
2011-2012 |
Total |
Funding
Source |
|
Online
Communications |
$8,000.00 |
$8,000.00 |
$8,000.00 |
$24,000.00 |
010 -
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET |
|
|
|||||
|
TOTAL |
$9,200.00 |
$9,200.00 |
$9,200.00 |
$27,600.00 |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Goal: Technology Integration |
|||||
|
Incorporate
Technology |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
2011-2012 |
Total |
Funding
Source |
|
Classrooms
for the Future |
$80,000.00 |
$82,000.00 |
$85,000.00 |
$247,000.00 |
340 -
REVENUE FOR TECHNOLOGY (EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER) |
|
Effective
Technology |
$70,000.00 |
$70,000.00 |
$70,000.00 |
$210,000.00 |
010 -
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET |
|
|
|||||
|
Training |
2009-2010 |
2010-2011 |
2011-2012 |
Total |
Funding
Source |
|
After-Hours
Training |
$5,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
$15,000.00 |
340 -
REVENUE FOR TECHNOLOGY (EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER) |
|
In-Service |
$3,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$8,000.00 |
010 -
ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET |
|
In-Service |
$30,000.00 |
$30,000.00 |
$30,000.00 |
$90,000.00 |
050 -
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES |
|
|
|||||
|
TOTAL |
$188,000.00 |
$192,000.00 |
$190,000.00 |
$570,000.00 |
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
GRAND
TOTAL |
$197,200.00 |
$201,200.00 |
$199,200.00 |
$597,600.00 |
|
Monitoring
The Technology Director will be responsible for monitoring
activity progress through collaboration with the district administrative teams.
Teacher observations from building principals, the Curriculum Director, and the
Superintendent will be used to determine appropriate progress with technology
integration into the classroom. Teacher and student surveys will also be
implemented to evaluate the progress of technology in the classroom and give
indications of increased interest and appropriateness to the educational needs
of the students.
Evaluation
The District will use student and staff surveys and
interviews to help evaluate these technology goals. Improvement in student
performance will also be a partial indication of successful implementation of
the planned activities. Year-end evaluation of goals and activities will take
place annually to manage successes and failures as well as possible changes in
technology, education, and finances.