Public Schools of North Carolina North Carolina Instructional Technology Plan

Public Schools of North Carolina North Carolina Instructional Technology Plan

State Board of Education Department of Public Instruction

Howard Lee, Chairman June Atkinson, State Superintendent

REQUIRED SUBSTANTIVE COMPONENTS

OF THE

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY PLAN

The local school board has actively involved key stakeholders in the development of a district-wide four-year technology plan that includes the following key components:

·  a vision statement consistent with the North Carolina Instructional Technology Plan that reflects the unique qualities and strategic priorities of your local school system;

·  the identification of the current situation, goals, objectives and evaluation of the core instructional and administrative components of a technology program that address the five strategic priorities of the Future Ready Students:

Ø  Globally competitive students

Ø  21st Century professionals

Ø  Healthy and responsible students

Ø  Leadership for innovation

Ø  21st Century Systems;

·  a staff development and training component that reflects a budget of 20 to 30 % of the total cost of the technology program; and

·  an infrastructure/connectivity component that meets North Carolina Information Technology Services standards to assure compatibility, connectivity, and cost-effectiveness.

LEA Name: Weldon City Schools LEA Number: 422

Signature:

Superintendent Local Board Chair

Person of Contact: Alicianiah C. Hossein Telephone number: 252-536-4821

Instructional Technology Division Technology Planning and Support NCDPI

Technology Committee Members

All committee members have been involved in the development of this plan and support its implementation.

Name Title or Group Represented Signature Date

David Jones Executive Director

William Dixon Weldon High School Principal

Raymond Barnes Weldon Middle School Principal

Willa Johnson-Wall Weldon Elementary School Principal

Emily Smith WHS Media Specialist

Pamela Perry WMS Media Specialist

Jeanette Holley WES Media Specialist

Linda Wiggins Career and Technical Education Coordinator

Mildred Hux WES Computer Lab Facilitator

Robin Davis WMS Computer Skills Teacher

Queen Moody WMS Computer Skills Teacher

Twana Anderton WHS Business Education Teacher

Onetia Hammiel WHS Business Education Teacher

John Vassor Computer Support Technician

Alicianiah C. Hossein Technology Coordinator

VISION

The Weldon City Schools District is to become the model in the state of North Carolina, dedicated to raising the level of achievement of our school community by effectively integrating technology into teaching and learning.

The Weldon City Schools District is located in the town of Weldon, in Halifax county in rural northeastern North Carolina. According to the 2000 U.S. census, Weldon has a population that is 62% African American, with an average per capita income of $16,322 per year. The school district currently has a student population that averages between 1,000 and 1,200 students. The student population is 95% African American.

The Weldon City Schools technology plan is comprised of objectives and strategies that specifically address the following areas:

Globally Competitive Students

Weldon City Schools recognizes that the ultimate goal of a successful school system is to produce high levels of achievement from students prepared to compete globally in the 21st century. The primary focus of technology at Weldon City Schools is to contribute directly to student instruction and the support of teachers, administrators, and staff. Technology will be essential to providing students access to resources by enabling the expanded development of lesson plans and learning activities. Technology can also incorporate strategies that consider individual student learning styles and self-paced instruction.

Healthy and Responsible Students

Maintaining healthy and responsible students actively involves the use of technology. Communication systems, security systems, and surveillance systems all incorporate technology to create safe and orderly school facilities. Internet resources, telecommunications, computers, and a variety of software are greatly utilized in the development and operation of school programs designed to promote healthy students and caring schools. By helping to reduce the threat of violence or disruption of learning activities, technology directly contributes to student success and well-being.

21st Century Professionals

Technology can be a vital component in providing the resources necessary to produce quality teachers, administrators, and staff. Access to information, the ability to communicate effectively, and increased productivity all employ the use of technology. Teachers and staff have access to on-line resources, such as LearnNC, Kaleidoscope, and NC WISE OWL to supplement and enhance student learning activities. Technology is also essential in providing convenient and effective professional development opportunities through the use of on-line courses, and distance learning.

Leadership for Innovation

School district leadership must be committed to innovation in current and future technology endeavors to meet the challenges and demands of the 21st century. Communications through the internet, e-mail, and telephones is enabled by technology and are vital to providing access to the necessary information and tools needed to lead Weldon City Schools. Technology enables data-driven instruction necessary to improve instructional practices and student performance.

21st Century Systems

Technology is the foundation 21st century school system technology resources and operation. Telecommunications and internet access are two major implementations of technology that are absolutely vital to successful school system operation. The North Carolina Window on Student Information (NCWISE), Budget Utilization and Development (BUD), Human Resource Management System (HRMS), Transportation Information Management System (TIMS), and E-Procurement are some of the applications used to make administrative operations at Weldon City Schools more effective and efficient. Keeping easily accessible records of staff development activities and technology inventory are also more effectively managed using technology. Maintenance and technology support operations are greatly enhanced using on-line work order systems.

NC public schools will produce globally competitive students.

Current Situation Narrative

Current Situation

Weldon City Schools has worked diligently to maintain improvements in the area of student performance over the last several years.

Weldon High School fell just short of making adequate yearly progress while meeting 12 (or 92.3%) of 13 target goals in the 2007-2008 school year.

Weldon Middle School made adequate yearly progress in the 2007-2008 school year meeting 100% of 10 target goals.

Weldon Elementary School made adequate yearly progress in the 2007-2008 school year as well, meeting 100% of 10 target goals.

It is the goal of Weldon City Schools to continue to improve the integration of technology and classroom instruction. There are currently computer labs at each of the schools, and concerted efforts have been made to ensure that adequate computing resources are available at each school.

There are a variety of computer-based applications in use throughout the school system which include the following:

· Accelerated Reader

· Accelerated Math

· WaterFord

· SuccessMaker

· FastForWord

· NovaNet

· Study Island

· Test Magic

· Virtual High School

There are several student assessment and benchmarking software tools currently in use throughout the school district. With the teacher guidance, students periodically self-test in the areas of reading and math using Accelerated Reader, and Accelerated Math, WaterFord, and SuccessMaker.

High speed internet access is available in 99% of classrooms throughout the school district. This enables the utilization of internet resources such as Renaissance Place, Virtual High School, Study Island, and NovaNet.

Weldon High School will benefit from the installation of a distance learning lab funded by a USDA grant in conjunction with several other area school systems. This will allow students at Weldon High School to access courses not available within the school district due to lack of available teachers. Access to course instruction not otherwise available, will be essential to the academic success of students at Weldon High School. Weldon High School has computer lab time dedicated each school day to the use of NovaNet on-line courses.

During the summer of 2008, Weldon Middle and High Schools received new computers for computer labs. Fiber connectivity was provided to computer labs at Weldon Elementary and Middle School to improve the performance of networked instructional applications. Also during the summer of 2008, a new server was installed at Weldon Middle School and a new district e-mail server was installed in September 2008.

The Career and Technology Education (CTE) program makes vital use of technology throughout the school district. At Weldon Middle School, there are two computer labs that each house 20 computers for student instruction. At Weldon High School there are three computer labs, each also equipped with 20 computers. During the 2007-2008 school year, the CTE program at Weldon High School upgrade the Microsoft Office software to the latest version to ensure adequate instruction of students on productivity software.

Throughout the Weldon City School district, there is an average of 2 computers per classroom.

In an effort to better implement the IMPACT model within the school district, there have been new or re-furbished computer labs established at each of the schools in the district:

-  Weldon Elementary School has two computer labs in full time use providing instruction with the WaterFord and SuccessMaker applications.

-  An additional lab dedicated to the operation of SuccessMaker at Weldon Middle School has been in operation since the 2007-2008 school year. This makes for a total of four computer labs in utilization at Weldon Middle School.

-  Mobile labs have been a major initiative at Weldon High School, where currently there are 4 mobile carts that house a total of 72 laptops.

Efforts to improve implementation of the IMPACT model will continue. However, the IMPACT model cannot be implemented to it’s fullest extent without the addition of technology facilitators at each of the schools in the district.

Weldon City Schools has a good technology infrastructure upon which to base further utilization of existing technology. However, an investment in technology personnel will be necessary to ensure better integration of technology in instruction.

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NC public schools will produce globally competitive students.

Strategic Technology Plan

Include at least one strategy or objective that includes the following:

Mathematics/reading scores improvement Classroom use of student resources

1.  Mathematics/reading scores improvement Classroom use of student resources

2.  IMPACT model implementation

3.  Mathematics/reading scores improvement Classroom use of student resources

4.  Computer Skills Test score improvement

5.  Computer Skills Curriculum implementation

6.  Information Skills Curriculum implementation

7.  Technology integration across the curriculum

8.  Student distance learning opportunities

9.  Assistive technology availability

10.  Global Exchange

11.  Support for Early College (or similar) programs

Strategy / Resources Needed
(Human & Material) / Person(s)
Responsible / Budget Needs / Funding Sources / Time-line
(Proposed Beginning & Ending dates) / Method of Evaluation
1.1
Upgrade MS Office to latest version at WMS / Teachers with knowledge of latest version of MS Office, computers, and upgraded MS Office / WMS Computer Skills Teachers
Technology Coordinator / $ for upgraded software licenses / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Teacher observation
Tests on new features of upgraded MS Office version
1.2
Engage in planning for Early College implementation / District Administration,
Halifax Community College Administration / Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Halifax Community College / Planning grant amount / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
November 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Planning grant meeting attendance
1.3
Utilize computer-based instructional software at WES and WMS / Classroom Teachers,
Computer Lab Facilitators,
Technology Staff,
Computers,
Internet Access / Teachers,
Computer Lab Facilitators, Technology Staff / $8,500 for NovaNet renewal fees
$5,625 for Renaissance Place / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Application generated reports noting usage and student progress
1.4
Utilize mobile labs in classrooms / Teachers,
Students, Technology Staff,
Laptops,
Mobile carts,
Wireless networking equipment / Teachers,
Technology Staff / In-Kind / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Teacher and administration observation,
Technology work orders on equipment needing maintenance
1. 5
Implementation of advance technology resources into the business and computer skills curriculum via web-based resources, such as eChalk / Technology Coordinator,
Business and Computer Skills Teachers / Technology Coordinator,
Business and Computer Skills Teachers / In-Kind / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
January 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Results of eChalk implementation, such as teacher webpages that contain timely and useful information
1.6
Availability and installation, on an as-needed basis, text-to-speech software, speech-to-text software, and screen-readers for students with disabilities / Technology Coordinator, Exceptional Children Director, any necessary accessibility software / Technology Coordinator,
Exceptional Children Director / To Be Determined / Local, State, Federal / Beginning January 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Report from EC department on students with disabilities and
teacher and administrator evaluation of effectiveness of accessibility software in the classroom
1.7
Maintained teacher websites with timely and useful information / Web hosting services,
Teachers,
Technology Coordinator / School Administration,
Teachers,
Technology Coordinator / In-Kind / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Updated teacher websites with information such as posted homework, course information resources and progression.
1.8
Implement whiteboards in classrooms at Weldon Elementary School / Whiteboard vendor,
Teachers,
Technology Coordinator / School Administration,
Technology Coordinator / In-Kind / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Invoices for whiteboard purchase,
Observed installation and use
1.9
Implement at least one whiteboard in a business education computer lab at Weldon High School. / Whiteboard vendor,
WHS Business Education Teacher / School Administration,
Technology Coordinator / In-Kind / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Invoice for whiteboard purchase,
Observed installation and use
1.10
Upgrade speech-to-text software in Weldon High School business education computer labs / Dragon Naturally Speaking license vendor,
WHS Business Education Teachers / School Administration,
Technology Coordinator / In-Kind / Local, State, Federal / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Invoice for software purchase,
Observed installation and use
1.11
Hire at least one technology facilitator per school / State instructional technology funding,
District Administration / Weldon City Schools Board,
District Administration / Pending State Funding / Pending State Funding / Beginning
July 2009
Ending
June 2013 / Hired technology facilitators,