Cary District 26 Discusses $1.5 Million Technology Plan

The Cary School District 26 Board of Education is considering a $1.5 million technology plan as they consider the budget for the 2011-12 school year.

Technology coordinator Andrew Fitzsimons presented the detailed technology plan at the June 13 finance committee meeting without any finance restrictions.

The total $1.5 million cost of the plan would cover a faster network, replacement materials, laptops, building servers and interactive whiteboards for classrooms.

“Regardless of what it would cost, we need to understand what all it would take over the next several years to get rid of the clearly decade-old equipment that’s currently throughout the district,” board member Scott Coffey said. “We’re not looking to spend over a million dollars in capital here.”

Fitzsimons plan includes what he thought is needed to achieve 21st century education.

“I took a zero-balance-budget approach, it didn’t matter what the price was,” Fitzsimons said. “I told you what I thought we needed to be put in place with these numbers.”  

A technology update will benefit the district in many ways, in terms of students and operationally.

“Teachers that are excited about technology and using it, are going to use it with kids,” said Curriculum Director Mary Dudek. “It’s going to make a big difference as far as moving forward.”

5-Year Technology Capital Plan

Year One: Approximate cost, $376,000

1. Install wireless coverage in all district buildings.
2. Replace all network routers, switches, with the exception of Deer Path, which received new switches during the 2008-09 school year. Replace all computer labs unless recently funded by the PTO.
3. Provide a laptop for every teacher: $89,000.
4. Begin purchasing technology tools such as document cameras and projectors.

Year Two: Approximate cost, $279,500

1. Replace battery backups that protect servers from crashes.
2. Replace Three Oaks classroom, office and other learning computers.
3. Provide laptops to all certified staff who have not yet received them and to special education teachers.
4. Phase in additional document cameras and projectors.
5. Begin buying interactive white boards for classrooms.

Year Three: Approximate cost, $278,000

1. Begin buying student response systems (two sets per building).
2. Complete Phase 3 of classroom technology purchases, including the further addition of document cameras, projectors and interactive white boards.
3. Replace Deer Path classroom, office and other learning area computers
4. Begin refreshing mobile computer labs.

Year Four: Approximate cost, $309,000

1. Continue deployment of technology tools, including document cameras, interactive whiteboards, projectors and student responders.
2. Replace Briargate classroom, office and other learning area computers.
3. Continue refreshing mobile computer labs.

Year Five: Approximate cost, $275,800

1. Buy new switches and server for Deer Path.
2. Replace building servers.
3. Complete deployment of 21st-century classroom technology tools.
4. Complete mobile computer lab refresh.
5. Replace Cary Junior High office and learning area computers.