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Natick Public Schools Technology Update January 26, 2009

Updates on various technology projects in Natick Public Schools, including library circulation system upgrade, first-class system replacement, new teacher web page solution, new email and archiving solution, network improvements, and laptop refresh.

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Natick Public Schools Technology Update January 26, 2009

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  1. Natick Public SchoolsTechnology UpdateJanuary 26, 2009 Dennis Roche, CISA Director of Technology

  2. Technology AgendaTopics • Project Updates • Replacement Funds Summary • Community Awareness & Fund Raising • Challenges for 2009 - 2010 School Year

  3. Project Updates • Library Circulation System • First Class System Replacement • New Teacher Web Page Solution • New Email and Archiving Solution • Network Improvements • Laptop Refresh

  4. Library Circulation System Upgrade • Worked with district librarians to research and select best available option. • Selected system based on best fit for Natick Public Schools in terms of cost, functionality, customer support, conversion of data and reputation within K12 market place. • Follett Software’s Destiny product was the hands-down choice.

  5. Library Circulation System Upgrade • Upgrade is scheduled to occurred over February break (2/16 - 2/20). • Solution is web based and will allow students, parents and faculty and staff access to all school book collections from home. • Intuitive User Interface.

  6. First Class System Replacement • A system that tries to be all things for all people. • Currently used as our web hosting platform for teacher web pages and our district email system. • Poor support from the vendor and very limited options.

  7. First Class System Replacement • New Solution for Teacher Web Pages • Piloted School World Product • 27 Teachers across the district participated • Vendor welcomed our feedback and made numerous adjustments. • Now offering various training sessions to teachers so we can retire First Class by end of this School Year.

  8. First Class System Replacement • New Email and Archiving System • Currently building new MS Exchange backend as our new email platform. • All email addresses will be changing to use the new domain: natickps.org • Old email addresses will forward for a period of time. • Cutover to new system will occur during Summer of 2009 to minimize disruption. • Archiving solutions are being evaluated and will be implemented when the cutover occurs.

  9. Network Improvements • Transforming our backend network infrastructure to utilize various virtualization technologies: • VMware for Windows platform • Parallels for MAC platform • Benefits include: • Server consolidation; able to provide same level of service with fewer physical boxes. • Added redundancy without incurring additional hardware costs. • Quicker provisioning of new requests when not waiting for new hardware. • Less demand for electricity and cooling within main data center. • Deployment scheduled for Summer 2009.

  10. Laptop Refresh • New Software Image - Scheduled for Summer 2009 • New email client • New network domain settings • Software updates to operating system and browser plug-ins • Retraining of staff on all new features

  11. Replacement Funds Summary2008 -2009

  12. Community Awareness & Fundraising • Taste for Technology - February 7th • A big THANK YOU! to all party hosts and organizations that have volunteered to help with this initiative!!! • Any individuals or organizations still interested in getting involved may contact one of the co-chairs of the Parent Coordinating Council: • Amy Mistrot at mamistrot@rcn.com • Chris McLarnon at bearhill8@aol.com

  13. Challenges for 2009 - 2010 School Year • How do we continue to move technology forward during challenging economic times?

  14. Challenges for 2009 - 2010 School Year • Technology is a moving target and requires regular annual investment. It will not wait for us to catch up. • Staying where we are is simply not an option because it means falling behind and repeating a costly and vicious cycle.

  15. Challenges for 2009 - 2010 School Year • Funding replacement of equipment on an annual basis is a good step forward but we need to advance the conversation. • To fund a sustainable technology program will require a new way of thinking and a new model.

  16. Challenges for 2009 - 2010 School Year • The new model should allow us to share the cost of ownership. • Trends in the marketplace continue to evolve and more mobile devices than ever are being introduced every day. • School Districts need to be aware of these trends and prepare the network infrastructures to support them. Doing so may put districts in a position to share the cost of the ever changing client devices.

  17. Plan for 2009 - 2010 School Year

  18. New Requests 2009 - 2010 School Year

  19. Technology Operating Budget History

  20. Additional Costs in FY10 Technology Operating Budget

  21. Technology Staffing

  22. Technology Staffing

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