Breckenridge Community Schools 2006-2009 Technology Plan
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District
Description |
The Breckenridge Public School District is
located in the mid-Michigan area. Rural
in nature, but just 60 miles north of the State Capitol, the district is affiliated
with the Gratiot-Isabella Regional Educational Service District. The school district population is
approximately 845 students, 62.5 teachers, 17 aides, 4 administrators, and
5 secretaries. In addition, our food
service department employs 1 director and 6 cooks. The transportation and maintenance department includes 1
supervisor, 9 custodians, 1 bus mechanic, and 14 bus drivers.
Breckenridge Elementary
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Students Pre-K- 5 AdministratorsTeachers Aides Secretaries
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398 1 27 14 2 |
Breckenridge Middle School
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Students 6-8 Administrators Teachers Aides Secretaries
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201 1 10 1 0 |
Breckenridge High School
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Students 9-12 AdministratorsTeachers Aides Secretaries
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246 1 19 1 1 |
District Administration
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Administrators Secretaries
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3 2 |
Totals
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Total Students Total AdministratorsTotal Teachers Total Aides Total
Secretaries
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845 4 57 17 5 |
School Buildings |
< Breckenridge
Administration; 700 Wright Street; PO Box 217; Breckenridge, MI
48615-0217. District Telephone: (989)
842-3182
< Breckenridge
Elementary; 515 Summit Street; PO Box 217; Breckenridge, MI 48615-0217
< Breckenridge
Middle School; 700 Wright Street; PO Box 217; Breckenridge, MI 48615-0217
< Breckenridge
High School; 700 Wright Street; PO Box 217; Breckenridge, MI 48615-0217
< Breckenridge
Alternative Education; 119 Summit Street; PO Box 217; Breckenridge, MI
48615-0217
District Mission Statement
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The Breckenridge Community Schools, in cooperation with students, parents, and the community, creates a foundation of excellence on which to
build success for the future.
Planning Background
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Breckenridge schools developed a strategic
technology planning team prior to starting our new building program in
1990. The team consisted of various
representatives from the community, business, agriculture, and school including
parents, students, administration, staff and school board members. Technology came to the forefront immediately
as one of the major areas to develop in our planning. Our strategic planning has been fluid reflecting the rapid
changes in technologies. As part of our
school improvement plan, the district’s technology needs are reviewed and
revised annually.
Technology Mission Statement
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The technology mission for Breckenridge
Schools is to continually upgrade technology to stay current in the educational
spectrum.
Major Technology Goals
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< Hardware
will continually be upgraded to stay current with changing technologies.
< New
software will be incorporated based on its value when dealing with curriculum
and administrative needs.
< Current
software will be upgraded based on the hardware and curriculum needs.
< Infrastructure
will continually be monitored and upgraded to keep abreast of the changing
needs of students, staff, and the community.
< Continue
involvement in MMNET Middle Michigan Network for Educational Telecommunications
for network planning.
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Professional Development and Student Enhancement Goals |
< Professional
development will be an ongoing process as technology needs arise.
< Curriculum
needs involving technology will be evaluated based on student needs throughout
the entire district.
< An
ongoing attempt will be made to coordinate technology instruction within the
curriculum.
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Quality
Indicators for Technology Planning Breckenridge School District encompasses
the following quality indicators for technology planning: < The
technology plan is embedded and supportive of the district’s overall learning
plan, which focuses on high achievement for all students. < The
technology plan relates to, supports, and is integrated with other
educational plans within the district. < The
district’s decision-making and planning processes for the technology plan
focus on improving student learning. < The
process for developing the district’s technology plan provides for shared
decision-making and collaboration among all those who have a stake in the
success of the district. |
Guiding Documents For Plan
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< Michigan
Curriculum Framework (www.mde.state.mi.us/reports/)
< Instructional
Technology Across the Curriculum (www.michigan.gov/mde)
< Michigan’s
Five-Year Technology Plan (www.michigan.gov/mde
< Technology
Content Standards & Benchmarks (www.michigan.gov/mde
< Michigan
Technology Improvement Plan (MTIP) (www.michigan.gov/mde
< International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): National Technology Standards for
K-12 Education (www.iste.org)
< North
Central Regional Technology Education Consortium, (www.ncrel.org)
< Technology
Connections for School Improvement (www.ncrel.org/tplan/tplanB.htm)
< NSSE
Indicators for Quality for Information Systems in K-12 Schools (National Study
of School Evaluation). Library of
Congress Catalog No. 95-71988, 1996.
Consortium
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MNET Members |
Contact Person |
Position |
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Beal City Schools |
Joe Judge |
Director of Technology |
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Breckenridge Community Schools |
Sean McNatt |
Superintendent |
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Central Montcalm Public Schools |
Roger Thelen |
Superintendent |
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Clinton County RESD |
Larry Lloyd |
Superintendent |
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Dewitt Public Schools |
Gerald Jennings |
Superintendent |
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Fulton Schools |
Chuck Seguna |
Superintendent |
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Gratiot-Isabella RESD |
Jan Amsterburg |
Superintendent |
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Ovid-Elsie Area Schools |
Wayne Petroeljc |
Superintendent |
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St. Johns Public Schools |
Robert Kudwn |
Superintendent |
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St. Louis Public Schools |
Robert Lange |
Superintendent |
Technology Planning Committee |
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Member |
Position |
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Edith Humm |
Media/Technology Specialist |
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Dawn Landis |
High School Journalism Instructor |
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John Kolat |
High School CAD Instructor |
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Sheila Pilmore |
High School Principal |
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Sheila Pilmore |
Middle School Principal |
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Kim Thompson |
Elementary School Principal |
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Sean McNatt |
District Superintendent |
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Lisa Christiansen |
School Board Member |
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Tim Miller |
CEO Farmer State Bank |
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Matt McMahon |
Communication Specialist, GIRESD |
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Kathy Stewart |
Director of Technology, GIRESD |
Needs Assessment
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Staff abilities in technology vary greatly
based on previous exposure and interest in technology. Staff members are encouraged to pursue
opportunities that enhance the use of technology in their classrooms.
Current needs will focus on increasing and
upgrading hardware, software, infrastructure, and professional
development. Areas identified include:
< Vocational
technical preparation
< Agricultural
applications of technology
< Fine
arts applications of technology
< Expansion
of Internet capabilities
< Increasing
use of technology across the curriculum
< Increasing
use of technology for administrative tasks
< Increasing
telecommunication capabilities world-wide
< Continued
local community access to technology
Infrastructure
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The Breckenridge School District has made a commitment to the establishment and maintenance of a district network for voice, video, and data, which continue to strategically align our resources to provide the following:
< Shared academic resources
< Enhanced
curricular choices for students (via ITV, Internet/Web)
< Electronic
delivery of video, CD Rom, and software resources
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Action Plan #1 |
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Title: Equipment/Infrastructure |
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Specific Objective: Keep network and equipment current to meet district technology needs |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date
Resources Funding Notes
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1 Evaluate network and equipment performance based on usage and function Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going |
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Action Plan #2 |
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Title: Equipment/Infrastructure |
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Specific Objective: Evaluate needs for equipment and software among staff |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Provide the technology
request form for staff to update equipment and software needs. Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On
going 2 Allocate
equipment and software as resources permit Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Old & New equipment & software |
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Action Plan #3 |
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Title: Equipment/Infrastructure |
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Specific Objective: Upgrade current software for curriculum and administrative uses |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Purchase
upgrades of operating system software Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Gen. Fund Upgrade in 2005 |
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Action Plan #4 |
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Title: Equipment/Infrastructure |
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Specific Objective: Purchase DVD player and camera |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Determine
feasibility and costs Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $4,000 |
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Action Plan #5 |
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Title: Equipment/Infrastructure |
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Specific Objective: Update Tech Prep Vocational Lab |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Upgrade
equipment and software Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going $3,000 - $5,000 |
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Action Plan #6 |
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Title: Equipment/Infrastructure |
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Specific Objective: Establish technology base within community |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Explore
options for community use of Internet resources and link to district network Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going MMNET |
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2 Determine
feasibility and costs Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On goingMMNET No notable costs to district |
Curriculum
Development
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The Breckenridge School District has made
a commitment to the development of curriculum standards, which describe essential
learning for all students. A specific
set of standards has been developed by the State for Instructional Technology
Across the Curriculum (http://cdp.mde.state.mi.us/ITAC/). The Breckenridge School District believes
that technology standards specifying what students must know and be able to do,
as they progress through stages of schooling, are important in fostering their
development; and these standards are valuable to our society at large for
students, educators, parents, policy-makers, employers, and providers of goods
and services.
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Action Plan #7 |
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Title: Curriculum Development |
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Specific Objective: Integrate curriculum across all grade levels |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Establish
building level committees to update district coordination and to determine
technology needs StaffAdmn. 6/06 On going |
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2 Hold committee
meetings at building level to begin district coordination, determine what is being
done, and to determine technology needs Staff 6/06 On goingGen. Fund $500 Sub pay |
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3 Committee
members from each building meet to continue district coordination Staff 6/06 On
going |
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4 Encourage staff
to utilize professional development resources Staff 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $500 Sub pay for Professional Development |
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5 Establish
ATeacher Trainers@ for curriculum integration Staff 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $300/Comp Days Sub pay |
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6 Provide AWeb
Resources@ for staff Staff 6/06 On going Tech. Committee shares resources |
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Action Plan #8 |
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Title: Curriculum Development |
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Specific Objective: Provide students with the technology skills necessary for lifelong learning |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Purchase or
upgrade equipment and software for all areas of learning Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $40,000 to $60,000 Computer replacement |
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2 Train students continuously in the use of
appropriate technology Staff 6/06 On goingComputer
classes at building level |
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3 Train students
to use technology to reason and solve problems across all curriculum areas and
grade levels Staff 6/06 On going Currently being done in computer classes at all levels*Assessment tool to be developed for all classes |
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4 Provide
students with electronic global learning experiences Staff, Media Spec Admn. 6/06 On going InternetMichigan Virtual High School |
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5 Provide equal
access to technology to all learners Tech Comm. Staff, Admn. 6/06 On going |
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6 Encourage staff
to model ethical usage of technology Staff Admn. 6/06 |
Collaboration
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Breckenridge School District believes that
technology can enhance the operation of our schools and offer more choices to
students. Collaboration with other
educational units, business, industry, service agencies, and the community is
important in order to enrich technology resources in our district and enhance
learning for all. As a result of
collaborative efforts with the GIRESD, other schools and colleges, business and
industry, service agencies, and the local community, our district is involved
in the following collaborative efforts:
< Internet
Accounts - In collaboration with the MMNET, staff and students may apply for an
Internet account and have access to e-mail, Internet services and the World
Wide Web.
< Fiber
Optics - A joint effort with MMNET, this service provides a high speed,
reliable service that connects several districts in our area.
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Action Plan #9 |
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Title: Collaboration |
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Specific Objective: Encourage student, staff, and community use of Interactive Television ITV and Internet resources provided through GIRESD |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Students will be
informed of opportunities which use ITV for instructional purposes GIRESD Admn. Counselor 6/06 On going |
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2 Staff will be
informed of professional development opportunities which utilize ITV GIRESD Media Specialist Admn. 6/06 On
going |
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3 Encourage staff
to offer classes using the ITV medium Admn. Staff Tech Comm. 6/06 On
going |
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4 Students and
staff will have the opportunity to have Internet accounts GIRESD School Board, Admn. Media Specialist 6/06 On going$43,200 Yearly cost of owned fiber |
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Professional Development
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Breckenridge School District is committed
to providing professional development opportunities for its staff. As a result of a wide variety of skill levels
which exist related to the application of technology in the classroom, the
district is making a diligent effort to close the gap between the highly
skilled and the under skilled technology users. Some of the district’s goals for professional development
include:
< Improving
staff and student proficiency with technology and resources
< Implementing
technology tools into new and existing curriculum and instruction
< Improving
technology planning within the district
< Creating
a learning community with respect to technology and education
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Action Plan #10 |
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Title: Professional Development |
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Specific Objective: Provide systematic, ongoing staff development with an extensive focus on the integration of technology into the curriculum |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Conduct a
yearly needs/interest assessment of staff Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Bi-yearly GIRESD Needs Assessment for Professional Development |
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2 Provide
appropriate training opportunities based on needs assessment Admn. GIRESD Tech Comm. Media Spec. 6/06 On going Gen. Fund$1,000 GIRESD workshops, programs, and other professional
development opportunities |
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3 Coordinate visitations
to other schools, business, and industry Admn. Tech Comm. 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $500 Subs & Travel |
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4 Implement a
Atrainer-of-trainers@ approach to build technical expertise within the
district Admn. Staff Tech Comm. Media Spec. 6/06 On
going |
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Technical Assistance/Support |
Breckenridge School District is committed
to a coordinated, organized approach for maintaining and upgrading the
technology in the district. The
district is ever mindful of the growing need for increased technical assistance
and support as the technology needs of the district grow. Providing technical assistance and support
for existing and future technology in the district is an integral part of our
technology plan.
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Action Plan #11 |
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Title: Technical Assistance/Support |
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Specific Objective: Design a system for technical support within the district |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Update district technology plan Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going |
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2 Provide
assistance with technical problems within district through district technical
support staff and contracted services Media Specialist Vendors 6/06 On going Gen.
Fund $21,000 Tech person on-site one day per week |
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3 Develop a A
trouble-shooting@ network of people within the district Admn. Media Specialist Tech Comm. Staff 6/06 On
going |
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4 Provide
training for A trouble-shooting@ staff as needed Admn. Media Specialist 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $500 Subs Travel Conferences |
Technology
Funding
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Breckenridge School District is committed
to finding funding sources that will support the implementation of its
technology plan. Some of these sources
include:
< Educational
Foundation Grants
< Donations
from Business and Industry
< General
Fund
< Technology
Grants
< Vocational
Added Cost Funds
< Universal
Service Fund
Items considered in the Breckenridge
School District budget for technology include:
< Initial,
replacement, upgrade, and maintenance costs of equipment and software
< Network
upgrades and costs
< Software
licenses and upgrades
< Professional
development
< Technical
assistance staff and support
< Infrastructure
costs for technology readiness
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Action Plan #12 |
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Title: Technology Funding |
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Specific Objective: Actively pursue funding for technology |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Review the annual set aside amount for the
technology budget within the general fund budget Tech Comm. Admn. School Board 6/06 On going Incorporated yearly in budget |
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2 Pursue federal funding opportunities Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going USF |
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3 Pursue grant writing possibilities with Workforce
Board, etc. Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Gen. Fund $500 Subs |
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4 Explore business and community resources Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going School
Business Alliance |
Technology Budget Expenditures
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Breckenridge School District has been
committed to finding funding resources for technology for many years. Allocations for technology funding for four
years are given below:
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Expenditure |
2005-06 |
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Equipment |
45,000 |
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Training |
500 |
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Contracted Services |
20,000 |
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ITV/Frame Relay |
29,900 |
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Salaries & Benefits |
72,324 |
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Supplies & Software |
15,000 |
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Food Service Technology |
0 |
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MMNET |
43,200 |
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Totals: |
$225,924 |
*2006-2009 Projected Budget Expenses
Communications/Public
Relations
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Breckenridge School District is committed
to continuing its communication of its technology plan with all concerned. This goal will be achieved through the effective
use of a variety of media such as:
< Newsletters
to parents/community
< Media
releases to newspapers, radio, and televisions covering our area
< Telephone
calls
< Parent
coffees and community meetings
< Parent/teacher
conferences
< District home page on the World Wide Web
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Action Plan #13 |
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Title: Communications/Public Relations |
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Specific Objective: Communicate program plans and activities within the school district to the community |
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Step No. Action Step Assigned to Start Date Due Date Resources Funding Notes
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1 Develop method to notify and get input from staff and community about the technology plan Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going |
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2 Provide updates to the board, parents, staff, and community
regarding technological applications within the district and expand awareness
of current technology Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going Board meetings, newsletter |
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3 Collaborate with other districts making similar technological
efforts - MMNET, Gratiot=s Educational Channel Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On
going |
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4 Collaborate
with community members and local businesses in technological development Tech Comm. Admn. 6/06 On going |
Monitoring
and Evaluation
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