KCS TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS PLAN 2014-2019:

We recognize that the world of technology changes daily. While we can’t keep up with those kinds of changes, we believe that these are the best options we have for supporting instruction at this time. Our business plan will evolve as technology continues to change.

  • Bulbs, batteries, power cords, chargers, power supplies, keyboards, and mice are considered instructional supplies and will be handled at the school level.
  • Macintosh computers will be limited to iPad carts, knowing that we do not have the capacity nor the hardware/software resources to manage a full implementation at this time. Dell has a light-weight model that we encourage administrators to use if the only reason you are looking at a Mac is its lightweight profile.
  • System-wide software,such as Destiny or Reading 3D, will be the responsibility of the district.
  • After exploring free options, any software purchases need to be approved by the district technology department. This includes both software that is installed and online resources. The technology department will determine if the network infrastructure can support the software.

Projectors and Mimios:

Projectors and Mimios need to be on a replacement cycle. However, there is no need for purchasing additional MimioTeach or Mimio Pad devices for elementary schools when an iPad and Apple TV are available in a classroom. A projector and an iPad paired with an AppleTV allows the teacher to freely move about the classroom during instructional time. There has been some debate about large screen televisions vs. projectors in a classroom. While a large screen television has a crisper picture than a classroom projector, students still need to be relatively close to the television screen to see laptop projected images clearly. For the size of most of our classrooms, a data projector is the correct choice for display purposes.

Document Cameras:

iPad stands are available to use the iPad as a document camera. If a classroom teacher has an iPad, purchasing a stand such as the Belkin Portable Tablet Stage is recommended. (There are also iPad/iPhone Apps available to turn your Apple device into a document camera.) KCS will continue to recommend AverVision 300AFHDdocument cameras for teachers not using an iPad.

Printers/Copiers:

During the 2013-14 school year, copy machines replaced printers at each school. A cycle of attrition to utilize previously purchased printer supplies (i.e. toner) was allowed. Exceptions to this policy are CTE department printers, especially in document intensive classrooms or specialty printers, such as CAD or 3D printers. A teacher may opt to keep a classroom printer but he/she is solely responsible for maintaining the printer and purchasing printer supplies.

Laptops:

To provide equity across the district webegan a five-year replacement cycle for teacher laptop replacementbeginning with the 2013-14 school year. One fifth of teacher laptop replacement (approximately 100 per year) will occur with the understanding that schools will supplement this rotation to the greatest extent possible with schools funds, PTSO, or any other viable funding sources that are available.

iPads

There are currently iPads in every grade level throughout the school system.

To assist with instruction and assessment in grades 3-6, we will place iPad carts when financially possible in all classrooms starting with third grade and working up to sixth grade. Elementary carts will contain 25 iPads. KIS carts will contain 30 iPads.

With Meracki and an Apple server in each school, we no longer need to purchase the iPad Sync cart set-up with a Mac per cart; one cart for iPad2 and one cart for iPad4sor newer are sufficient. For all other laptop carts, we are purchasing simple charging carts.

Desktops:

After testing virtual clients in several locations, the results have been mixed. Until the results are consistent, we will recommend purchasing desktop computers.

Chromebooks:

Chromebooksis our computing device of choice for grades 7-12. We piloted Chromebooks at KMS and ALBHS. Usage results are positive at this level, so we recommend continuing this plan. Chromebookswill follow the students through each grade level until they graduate and a new set will be purchased each year for the 7th grade students. When the original Chromebook users graduate, their Chromebooks will become spares for parts or replacements. After testing the various models of Chromebooks, the IT department has determined that the Dell Chromebook will be the model of choice. Contact the IT department for configuration specifications for Chromebooks.

Year / Grade Level
2014-15 / 7th & 8th Grades
2015-16 / Initial Chromebooks move to 9th grade, refresh 7th grade
2016-17 / Initial Chromebooks move to 10th grade, refresh 7th grade
2017-18 / Initial Chromebooks move to 11th grade, refresh 7th grade
2018-19 / Initial Chromebooks move to 12th grade, refresh 7th grade
2019-20 / Initial Chromebooks become spares, refresh 7th grade