Florence Unified School District #1
October Board Report
Nicole Steele, Director of Educational Technology
Network Remediation
During the fall break, with the assistance of Hye Tech Consulting, the technology department performed
numerous remediation efforts to our district’s network. These changes will help our network hardware and
software to perform better for the end user. Here is an overview of the work performed and the remaining items
that will be completed over the next month or so.
 Software was updated on all of the network switches. We also made some configuration changes to the
switches in order to update the quality of service for both data and phones.
 Standardized and hardened the security on all switches and routers.
 Configured domain controller servers at each school site to improve network login speeds by the end
user.
 Disabled all software updates being pushed down through Group Policies and are currently looking for a
more efficient way to do this. Group policies are rules that tell the network what specific groups of users
are able to do on the computers.
 Still left on their scope of work is to improve our Microsoft Exchange server (email), reconfigure our call
manager at Poston Butte (the software that tracks our phones, conference bridges and voicemail boxes
among others), assist with set-up of our new SharePoint server (used by district staff for collaboration
and file sharing) and continue streamlining our Group Policies.
Internet Connectivity
In August we completed the build of the new Internet line leading into Skyline Ranch. By adding this new line
we were able to increase our internet bandwidth (speed) from 45 mbps (mega bits per second) to 145 mbps.
Prior to this, all of the school sites were accessing the Internet through Florence High School; however after the
completion of the new line the majority of the schools were then receiving their Internet access through Skyline
Ranch. A portion of this new Internet line is paid through the federal E-Rate reimbursement program.
After using the new Internet line for about two weeks we realized that the increase of speed was still not
sufficient for our needs. The 45 mbps of Internet bandwidth that was supporting Florence High School, Florence
K-8 School, the district office and the bus barn and maintenance facilities was not enough. We immediately
began the process of increasing the speed at Skyline Ranch to 200 mbps. We will then reroute the Florence
area facilities out of that Internet line. We anticipate the completion of this project on October 13th.
Capital Override Purchases Update
The Florence USD is well on its way to provide our students with a 21 st century classroom technology
experience. In a short amount of time, utilizing our capital override funds, we have been able to provide all of
our classrooms with a projector and an interactive whiteboard, either fixed to the wall or portable. All of our high
school students are able to have technology in their hands every hour, every day through the use of their
netbooks. Additionally, all of our K-8th grade classrooms currently have 4 student workstations and will have 8
very shortly. Nearly half of our classrooms currently have document cameras and student response systems
and the remaining classrooms will be receiving them shortly. Teachers are excited, students are engaged and
because of all of the technologies that we have available, the possibilities are endless!
Technology Professional Development
During the fall break a number of professional development workshops in the area of technology were offered to
FUSD teachers. The trainings were provided by Nick Trakas and included using our district’s Google Apps for
Education account (using Google Docs and Sites in the classroom), document camera integration,
videoconferencing and some in depth workshops on utilizing the Promethean ActivInspire software. Nearly all
of the trainings were full with participants and they will be repeated during the winter break.
Technology Peer Coaching
During the 2008-2009 school year, funded through our Enhancing Education Through Technology grant, we
began an outstanding technology peer coaching program here in Florence. The Puget Sound Peer Coaching
program, run by Nick Trakas who is our district’s trained peer coaching facilitator, began with 3 teachers at
Circle Cross Ranch, Walker Butte and Florence K-8. It expanded last year to include approximately 18 teachers
throughout the school district and I am excited to announce that it will expand once again.
Technology peer coaching will be taking place at all of the schools throughout our district. At the K-8th grade
levels each school will have one designated coach in grades K-2, one in grades 3-5 and one in grades 6-8.
Additionally, there will be two coaches at each of our high schools. The coaches will not only receive training on
how to be a peer coach; helping teachers integrate technology into current lesson plans; but also will become
experts on how to use our 21st century technology so they can disseminate that information to their colleagues.
“This Peer Coaching Program is built on the premise that teachers often look to their colleagues first when they
need assistance integrating technology into their classroom. The program offers a professional development
model to enhance standards-based instruction through engaged learning and technology integration. The
program:
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Trains teacher leaders to serve as peer coaches for colleagues.
Uses the Peer Coaching Model to foster systemic integration of technology.
Assists teachers to integrate technology in ways that will engage students in learning.
Supports schools as they adopt and sustain the Peer Coaching Model as part of an effective school
professional development plan.
Following training, coaches can better help their peers in identifying ways that technology can strengthen
classroom curriculum and enhance their students’ academic achievement. Coaches also help their colleagues
to develop the necessary technology skills and instructional strategies needed to integrate technology into
teaching and learning.1”
These peer coaches will help us build internal capacity for the many technology resources that we are currently
purchasing through our capital override.
Presentations at the NSBA T+L Conference
The National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) yearly Technology + Learning (T+L) conference takes place
on October 19th-21st in Phoenix. Florence USD will be well represented at the conference through two
presentations and participation in the Education Excellence Fair. Our two presentations focus around our 1:1
initiatives at Poston Butte and Florence High Schools. During one presentation we will have the opportunity to
showcase our 1:1 initiative and how we use digital content and resources to teach directly to the state
standards. Our second presentation will focus around the why and how behind our decision to move to 1:1
computing. Presenting on behalf of Florence USD will be Dr. Bob Pappalardo, Dr. Gary Nine and Nicole Steele.
Additionally, we will be participating in the conference’s Education Excellence Fair. The Education Excellence
Fair is an opportunity for selected districts to showcase successful technology initiatives that they have
embarked upon. Florence USD teachers, students and administrators will be available at our booth to discuss
our 1:1 computing initiatives, using digital content in the classrooms and our 21st century classroom
technologies. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase what we are doing here in Florence with school
board members and administrators from all across the country!
Work Order Requests
The technology department staff has completed 344 official technology work order requests during the month of
September. The continuing assistance of the site technology contacts has increased the efficiency of assisting
district staff. Many thanks go to Jonathan Cochran for coordinating these efforts.
1.http://pc.innovativeteachers.com/mpc_web/default.aspx