EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY
This chapter reviews key areas of Ricardo Independent School District's (ISD) educational service delivery system, including:
- A. Student Performance
- B. Special Programs
- C. School Management
- D. Instructional Technology
D. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Instructional technology includes computer hardware and software applied to support the learning process in the classroom. Computers and technology are used for instructional purposes at every school in the district. All schools have computers in most classrooms. These are used for instructional, as well as administrative purposes. The Ricardo ISD library is automated.
According to Ricardo ISD's technology inventory, the district has 258 computers. Of these, 203 or 78.7 percent, are located in the schools.
The technology function within Ricardo ISD is coordinated by the director of technology. Responsibilities include analyzing hardware and software needs for the district, preparing grant requests for funding, troubleshooting equipment and conducting staff training. The director provides support for software and hardware in the following areas: (Exhibit 2-42).
Exhibit 2-42 Source: Ricardo ISD Technology Coordinator.
Computer Support Areas
Area Research Grant Prep Purchasing HW SW Training Business Services X X X X X X Instructional computing X X X X X X Library X X X X The district installed a local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN), and plans to install 160 new computers classrooms before the beginning of the 2000-01 school year, allowing each classroom to have four computers once all new hardware has been installed.
The current inventory of Ricardo ISD software is included in Exhibit 2-43.
Exhibit 2-43 Source: Ricardo ISD Technology Coordinator.
Ricardo ISD Inventory of Software
1998-99
Software Package School Usage Audience Purpose TexStar All Teachers To develop lessons plans aligned with text. Accelerated Reader All Students To test reading skills. STAR All Students To assess reading comprehension. A+ 1st-3rd & 8th grade Students To prepare for TAAS with simulated testing. Process Manager All Teachers To identify areas of improvement and pinpoint at-risk students. The technology expenditures from 1997-99 are compared in Exhibit 2-44. There has been a decrease in the amount spent per student each year in terms of supplies and materials. There were no capital outlays in 1997-98 and very few in 1998-99. The increase in the professional services reflects the hiring of a technology coordinator in 1998-99.
Exhibit 2-44 Source: TEA, PEIMS 1996-1999.
Ricardo ISD Technology Expenditures per Student
1996-1999
Year Professional
ServicesSupplies &
MaterialsCapital Outlay-
Expenditures1996-1997 $19.65 $5.51 $39.27 1997-1998 $19.97 $5.26 $0 1998-1999 $28.61 $2.69 $3.49 The current technology budget is presented in Exhibit 2-45.
Exhibit 2-45 Source: Ricardo ISD Technology Coordinator.
Ricardo ISD Technology Budget
1999-2000
Object Group Description Budget Total 6200 Professional and Contracted Services $1,500 6300 Supplies and Materials $5,840 6600 Capital Outlay-Equipment $10,580 In interviews, most staff and faculty said that the technology department helped the curriculum as an instructional tool. Each teacher expressed excitement regarding the installation of additional computers into each classroom.
FINDING
In June 1998, the district, with input from a district technology committee, prepared a detailed technology plan. The plan includes a technology mission statement, district goals, an evaluation and assessment of achievements and needs, action plans to implement each objective and a timeline for accomplishment, and estimated budget requirements for each objective. Exhibit 2-46 describes the goals of the plan. Exhibit 2-47 summarizes the technology plan and the status of each activity.
Exhibit 2-46 Source: Ricardo ISD Technology Coordinator.
Goals of Technology Plan
1999-2000
Goal Description 1 Faculty, students and staff will be computer literate. 2 Ricardo ISD will supply adequate equipment and resources to support the technology plan. 3 Ricardo ISD will provide a physical environment supporting the technology plan. 4 Ricardo ISD policies and procedures will support the technology plan.
Exhibit 2-47 Source: Ricardo ISD Technology Coordinator.
Activity Status of Ricardo ISD Technology Plan
Activity Not Started In Process Completed Hire full time staff member to maintain computers and lab. X Hire aides for computer labs. X Establish Computer Literacy Committee. X Establish minimal levels of teacher competency. X Visit successful technology programs outside district. X Utilize Region II Service Center for training. X Partner with Texas A&M University-Kingsville. X Establish Computer Mentoring program. X Add computer keyboarding to all grade level curriculum. X Teach computer skills at all grade levels. X Develop a computer "scope and sequence." X Maintain the CEI lab. X Implement Internet training in targeted middle school classes. X Develop incentive plan to encourage training. X Inventory existing software. X Conduct a needs assessment for software. X Purchase necessary software/site licenses. X Standardize all software currently in use and future purchases. X Inventory existing hardware. X Purchase new printers. X Replace Apple Lab. X Upgrade existing computers. X Purchase new computers. X Purchase laptops for teachers. X Network the computer labs. X Network all classrooms. X Install Internet wiring in classrooms. X Install Internet wiring in library computer labs. X Purchase a card catalog server for the Learning Resource Center (LRC). X Purchase the card catalog software for the LRC. X Purchase and install two new computers in LRC. X Apply for grants. X Contact potential corporate sponsors. X Study the need for additional grade level computer labs. X Purchase appropriate furniture as needed. X Survey teachers regarding needs for training, equipment, etc. X Survey parents regarding computer use at home, needs, etc. X Survey students regarding computer skills, usage and needs. X Utilize ITBS survey results regarding computer questions. X Conduct an open hearing for teacher input. X Review and revise the existing policies. X COMMENDATION
The Ricardo ISD technology program is a model of excellent planning, implementation and resourcefulness; all goals have either been met or will be met in 2000.
FINDING
Ricardo ISD has successfully prepared grants and received funding for technology projects. From 1998 to 1999, the district has successfully acquired $112,500 in grants funds (Exhibit 2-48).
Exhibit 2-48 Source: Ricardo ISD Technology Coordinator.
Ricardo ISD Grant Funds for Technology
1998-1999
Grant Source Amount Purpose TEA's Technology in Education (TIE) Grant $12,500 Training Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) $100,000 Technology infrastructure, servers, LAN, WAN and 26 computers Total $112,500 During the course of the review, the business director indicated that the district had applied for E-Rate to pay for the T-1 phone lines, services, teleconferencing, computer hardware, wiring, etc. The district anticipates receiving notification as to whether the grant was awarded in 2000. Ricardo ISD is also applying for another TIF grant for $100,000.
COMMENDATION
Ricardo ISD has actively sought grant assistance for expanding its technology program.
FINDING
The district purchased 160 new computers in March 2000 in its effort to place four computers in each classroom. Three bids were required. The vendor the district selected provided a seven-year parts warranty. To reduce the amount of hardware repair, the district selected computers that have no plastic parts. The technology coordinator also cleans each computer annually as a means of preventive maintenance.
COMMENDATION
Ricardo ISD has a preventive maintenance program in place and makes decisions regarding hardware specifications designed to limit maintenance problems.
FINDING
Ricardo ISD does not have the adequate staff to effectively deal with problems that surface with the installation of new hardware platforms. The technology coordinator is required to support 258 computers, two networks, all software and to troubleshoot any computer problems, train staff and help select instructional software. Exhibit 2-49 summarizes the staffing indicators for technology requirements.
Exhibit 2-49 Source: Microsoft Techniques and Tools for Support Organization.
Staffing Indicators for Technology Staff Requirements
Staffing Indicators Ricardo ISD Estimate Number of people to support 74 Number of incidents per day 10 Average time per incident 0.5 hours Available time six hours per day Sickness/Vacation/Training (%) 1-15% Utilization rate 65% Number of work hours per day 8 hours Number of days per month 21 days The district could improve support response time with additional staffing. However, the possibility of a full-time employee might be cost-prohibitive, and support needs might lessen in the summer.
Recommendation 14:
Establish a part-time position for a technology intern to assist the director of Technology.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND TIMELINE
1. The director of Technology develops criteria for hiring an additional technology staff person using the district's written hiring policy manual. September 2000 2. The director of Technology works with the Texas A&M University Career Placement Center. September 2000 3. Meet with the deans of the Business School and the Computer Science department to discuss the possibilities. September 2000 4. The director of Technology interviews candidates and makes selection. October 2000 FISCAL IMPACT
Assuming the district established a half-time intern program at a salary of $800 per month, the annual costs would be $9,600 per year. If the intern did not start until October 2000, the cost in the first year would be $8,800.
Recommendation 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Establish a part-time position for a technology intern to assist the director of Technology. ($8,800) ($9,600) ($9,600) ($9,600) ($9,600)