Northern Wells school technology sees updates

Jeff Miller, the director of technology in the Northern Wells school district, shared with board members at their Tuesday, Aug. 2, the following technology upgrades in the district's four schools:

High School
• Upgrade computers in D4, D11 and D21.
• Install Smartboards in Math Classrooms.
• Mount Projectors in D1, D4, D11 classrooms.
• Install Smartboards in D5, D7 Vocational Funding.
• Upgrade Laptops in Science (60 Laptops).

Middle School
• New laptops for room 224 lab.
• Re-distribute these machines to room 110.
• Update room 113 with newer machines from NHS Library Lab.
• Upgrade computers in NMS Library Lab, 218.
• Mount Projectors in 6 classrooms.
• Install Smartboards in Math Classrooms (5).
• Expand Carl Ring’s lab by 5 machines.

Ossian Elementary
• Install Smartboards in 5th Grade Classrooms.
• Install Smartboards in 4th Grade Classrooms.
• Upgrade labs in room 10, 21 and 22. (90 machines).
• Upgrade student machines in Kindergarten with old lab 21 machines.
• Upgrade 1st and 2nd Grade Student machines with old Lab10 and Lab22 machines.
• Reduce the number of printers/copiers in the building.

Lancaster Central Elementary
• Install Smartboards in 5th Grade Classrooms.
• Install Smartboards in 4th Grade Classrooms.
• Upgrade labs in APod, BPod and CPod (90 machines).
• Upgrade student machines in Kindergarten with APod machines.
• Upgrade 1st and 2nd Grade machines with BPod and CPod Lab old computers.

No. 1 Priority
• Staffing level needs improved to a level that allows project work and support work to progress on a timely fashion without “crises mode” directing our efforts.
• Re-establish what a classroom should look like since we have all NEW administrators.
• Align our Technology Strategy with the Strategic Plan.
• Establish “Bring your own” device policies at NHS/NMS.

Future Items to be considered ...
• Data Warehouse Future?
• Scanner (OpScan 4U) to import to PowerTeacher.
• PowerSchool on a hand held device via Smartphones.
• Distance learning - hardware to do this? Skype? Staff Development?
• Moodle - Online learning communities?
• Broadcasting solution at NHS (Source from Cafe, Auditorium, Gym, etc.)?
• Administrative Handbook for PowerSchool, PowerTeacher, Progress Reports, etc. to be given to teachers on 1st day back.?
• Principal Laptops?
• Staff Laptops?
• Smart Boards (what grade levels make sense?)

For more about the Tuesday, Aug. 2, school board meeting, see the Wednesday, Aug. 3, News-Banner.