THREE-YEAR DISTRICT
TECHNOLOGY PLAN:
2013 – 2016
Middletown Township
School District
Middletown, NJ
William O. George III, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
Table of Contents
Contents
I. Executive Summary ...................................................................... 3
II. Technology Inventory/Overview ................................................. 4
III. Needs Assessment ................................................................... 13
IV. Three-Year Goals ...................................................................... 14
V. Three-Year Implementation and Strategies Table .................... 15
VI. Professional Development ....................................................... 17
VII. Evaluation Plan ....................................................................... 20
VIII. Funding Plan .......................................................................... 22
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
I. Executive Summary
A. Technology Plan creation date: March 10, 2014
B. District Profile
The Middletown Township School District is a preschool through twelfth
grade public school district located in Monmouth County, NJ. The Middletown
school district is home to seventeen schools with over 10,000 students. Covering
42 square miles, Middletown is one of three original townships formed in 1693. It
is comprised of seventy thousand residents from Monmouth County. The
Middletown Township School District is includes twelve elementary schools,
three middle schools, and two high schools.
The district is known for its focus on technology and excellent curricular
offerings. The District’s website is http://middletownk12.org. Each of the seventeen
schools maintains an individual website easily accessed from the district site. School
community members can access information that includes, but is not limited to, a
parent portal for reviewing student progress, individual school programs, staff,
curricula, activities, Board of Education minutes/agendas, lunch menus, before- and
after-school services, and upcoming events.
C. District Vision Statement
Focusing on technology, Middletown Township will remain focused on
sustaining an interactive learning community in order to afford all students the
opportunity to attain skills and knowledge
D. District Technology Mission Statement
The Middletown Township School District will develop an advanced
technological environment in all curricular areas for its students and staff in a
productive and cost effective manner. We will integrate technological skills to
enhance the teaching and learning process and improve the efficiency of all district
operations. The Middletown Township School District is committed to preparing our
students to be proactive digital citizens in an ever-changing world. We will strive to
provide students with the best skills, attitudes, and resources to succeed in a global
work force. Technology will be used as a mechanism that immerses students in a
learning environment that fosters communication, conceptual understanding,
collaboration, and creativity. Through increased and continual professional
development, educators will combine and integrate technological tools with new
instructional models that continue to acknowledge the individual learning styles of a
diverse student population. Doing so will enable all students to become responsible,
technological learners.
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
II. Technology Inventory/Overview
A. Current Technology Inventory
Building
Bayview
Fairview
Harmony
Leonardo
Lincroft
Navesink
New Mon
Nut Swamp
Ocean Ave
Port Mon
River Plaza
Village
Bayshore
Thompson
Thorne
North
South
Totals
Desktops Laptops Minis iPads Chromebks Nooks Kindles
72
62
37
85
86
0
0
53
52
24
50
48
0
0
88
46
22
79
85
8
0
52
41
15
40
36
0
0
61
25
24
102
84
0
0
63
50
39
53
75
36
0
96
29
18
74
72
0
0
77
32
48
68
78
0
0
76
28
16
50
54
0
0
58
27
8
51
46
0
0
64
30
16
65
64
0
0
65
84
21
76
66
0
0
212
68
90
31
231
0
45
238
106
90
29
265
0
12
208
70
94
50
344
0
28
410
125
284
195
940
0
0
431
115
256
202
840
0
0
2324
990
1102
1300
3414
44
85
Smart
Board
24
19
27
20
22
20
31
30
16
15
20
23
48
45
51
59
34
504
The district’s network is client-server based with servers running Windows 2003/2008 Server
operating system. An upgrade to all of our servers to Windows Server 2008 is planned during the 2013-14
school year. Currently, most client workstations are running Windows XP Professional operating system
with service pack 3. The district plans on upgrading the operating system on many desktops/laptops to
Windows 7 by January 2015. Dell is the district standard for servers and desktop/laptop computers. The
district’s current desktop models are Dell GX620, GX745 and GX755 workstations running Windows
XP Professional with between 1GB and 4GB of RAM. District servers are Dell PowerEdge models. The
district has a VMWare farm for running virtual servers making it very cost effective to add services and
application servers. In additional to the desktop computers for staff and student use, the district has
purchased over the past 2 years 1,000+ iPads and 3,000+ Chromebooks. We also have a “Bring Your
Own Device” program available to all students and staff district-wide. To prepare for this large influx
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
of wireless devices the district upgraded its Aruba wireless network to 802.11n in the summer of 2012.
This will allow for a greater density of devices throughout our buildings. Future wireless upgrades to
the 802.11ac standard are planned.
In February 2013 the district completed the installation of a fiber network to connect all of
its buildings with a minimum bandwidth of 1GB back to the central data center. This fiber network
will act as the backbone to provide increased technology applications and services for many years to
come. The main data center is protected by a large UPS for power protection during outages.
Future plans are to install a backup generator to provide services and prevent data loss during long
term outages. Our data closet connections within our buildings are fiber with copper connections to
all classroom data drops.
The district utilizes a 500 MB Internet circuit from Windstream with the capacity to be upgraded
to 1 GB. Our intention is to obtain a secondary Internet provider of 500 MB to provide resiliency
and redundancy. Our web content filter is from Bloxx. Our Exchange 2010 email system is front ended by a Barracuda SPAM filter. Additionally we subscribe to Barracuda’s Cloud Protection
Layer to initially scrub all messages of SPAM and viruses before reaching the district.
Our Elementary schools use Citrix Xen Desktop technology to provide virtual desktops to the
majority of computers. This helps minimize individual software updates and eases the deployment
of new applications. Data backups are performed nightly directly to a network SAN using
CommVault software allowing for file restores to be performed in minutes.
Each classroom has a dedicated teacher workstation and multiple wireless devices. All
classrooms have a projector and a document camera. Each Elementary classroom has a mounted
Smart Board while numerous classrooms in the Secondary Schools also have Smart Boards. Prior to
the 2012-2013 school year, most of the wireless devices were Intel-based laptops. The district has
made a move to iPads in Grades K-2 and ChromeBooks in Grades 3-12. The ChromeBooks will be
essential for use with the upcoming PARCC online assessments. The ChromeBooks also will
provide synergy with the district use of Google Docs as every district student is assigned an account.
The trend will be to a one-to-one environment as our budget permits as this will provide the best
opportunity for technology integration in the classroom.
Each Elementary school has one computer lab, Middle Schools have 4 computer labs and each
High School has 8 computer labs. There are also iPad carts in each High School, used by the Math
department to assist with instruction and to access an interactive textbook.
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
B. Technology inventory needed to improve student academic achievement through 2016.
Three Year Technology Plan Inventory Table (2013 – 2016)
Area of Need
Describe for 2013-14
Technology Equipment
District
The district plans on:
1. finishing mounting projectors and
Smart Boards in all Elementary
classrooms.
2. purchasing 4 iPads for each K-2
Classroom
3. purchasing 4 ChromeBooks for every
3-8 classroom
4. purchasing 55 ChromeBook carts for
HS Humanities classrooms
5. purchasing 270 iPads to expand the HS
Algebra pilot program and start
geometry pilot
6. upgrading all Elementary classroom
teacher computers with newer
refurbished units with lifetime warranty
The district plans on:
1. upgrading Internet bandwidth from 300 to
500MB in
2. upgrading our SPAM filter to a more
effective appliance/software
3. upgrading our VMWare environment to
VCenter 5.5
4. upgrading load balancing appliances for
Power School and email
Networking Capacity
Describe for 2014-15
Describe for 2015-16
The district plans on:
1. adding more SMART Boards and mounted
projectors in the Middle and High Schools.
2. purchasing devices to meet PARCC
requirements
3. migrating more existing physical servers to
the current virtualized server farm.
4. Start implementing a one-to-one device
program in designated grades from 3-12
5. starting to replace document cameras in both
high schools
6. establishing a print environment to include
wireless devices
7. continuing to purchase tablet devices for
primary grade levels
The district plans on:
1. continuing the implementation of one-toone program in designated grades
2. continuing to add SMART Boards and
mounted projectors in the Middle and High
Schools
3. continuing to purchase various devices to
meet PARCC requirements.
4. migrating more existing physical servers to
the current virtualized server farm
The district plans on:
1. starting to upgrade switches in network
closets throughout the district.
2. implementing a network monitoring
solution to provide more proactive support.
3. purchasing a web filter appliance with
additional capacity to handle the influx of
mobile devices.
4. investigating the next upgrade in our
wireless infrastructure.
5. continuing to evaluate Internet bandwidth
usage and needs
The district plans on:
1. continuing expansion/upgrade of wireless
infrastructure
2. continuing the evaluation of Internet
bandwidth usage and needs
3. evaluating web/spam filters for possible
upgrades/expansion
4. continuing network switch upgrades
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
Three Year Technology Plan Inventory Table (2013 – 2016) – CONTINUED
Area of Need
Describe for 2013-14
Describe for 2014-15
Software used for
curricular support
The district plans on:
1. continuing the Microsoft School agreement
for software upgrades.
2. investigating the upgrade of
desktops/laptops to Windows 7 operating
system.
3. continuing Discovery Education
school licensing agreement.
4. continuing ASP agreement with TIENet
for IEP writing/reference
5. continuing the subscription to Destiny,
PowerSchool, Journeys and Digits
6. evaluating student virtual desktop
infrastructure for use with ChromeBooks.
7. investigating more textbook support
software.
8. evaluating digital textbook delivery.
9. purchasing more assistive technology
software.
The district plans on:
The district plans on:
1. continuing the Microsoft School agreement
1. continuing the Microsoft School agreement
for software upgrades.
for software upgrades.
2. Starting to upgrade desktops/laptops to
2. continuing upgrade of desktops/laptops to
Windows 7 operating system.
Windows 7 operating system.
3. continuing license agreements with
3. continuing license agreements with
Discovery Education, TIENet, Destiny,
Discovery Education, TIENet, Destiny,
PowerSchool, Journey’s and Digits
PowerSchool, Journey’s and Digits
4. implementing student virtual desktop
4. adopting textbook support software.
infrastructure for use with ChromeBooks.
5. purchasing more assistive technology software
5. adopting textbook support software.
6. maintaining current web based resource
subscriptions that support the CCSS and
6. purchasing more assistive technology software
NJCCS
7. maintaining current web based resource
7. exploring the procuring of new web based
subscriptions that support the CCSS and
resource subscriptions that will support the
NJCCS
CCSS and NJCCS
8. exploring the procuring of new web based
8. developing a webpage resource for teachers
resource subscriptions that will support the
to access software and web based
CCSS and NJCCS
applications that are easily accessed with a
9. developing a webpage resource for teachers
descriptor of each.
to access software and web based
applications that are easily accessed with a
descriptor of each.
Technology
maintenance policy and
plans
The district plans on:
1. continuing summer maintenance of
computers and switches
2. investigating printer/copier vendors for
a new equipment/maintenance contract
3. renewing all software licensing
4.. renewing support contracts on all
district software including Destiny,
Surpass, Systems 3000 and Power
School.
5. extending warranties on Dell servers to
end of life
The district plans on:
1. continuing summer maintenance of computers
and switches
2. renewing all software licensing
3. extending Dell warranty on all equipment to
end-of-life.
4. renewing support contracts on all district
software
5. selecting a vendor for new printer/copier
equipment and maintenance
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Describe for 2015-16
The district plans on:
1. continuing summer maintenance of computers
and switches
2. renewing all software licensing
3. extending Dell warranty on all equipment to
end-of-life.
4. renewing support contracts on all district
software
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
Three Year Technology Plan Inventory Table (2013 – 2016) - CONTINUED
Area of Need
Telecommunication
services (Central
Telephone, PA System,
CCTV, Cable TV, and
Distance Learning)
Technical support
Facilities –
infrastructure including
security, fire, and alarm
systems
Other services
Describe for 2013-14
The district plans on:
1. selecting a new vendor/manufacturer of a
voice-over-IP solution to replace existing
digital phone system.
2. evaluating our existing security camera
infrastructure for future
upgrades/enhancements or replacement.
3. investigating acquiring a second 500 MB
Internet provider to load balance our
existing Internet circuit.
Describe for 2014-15
Describe for 2015-16
The district plans on:
The district plans on:
1. installing a secondary Internet circuit with
500 MB.
2. implementing a new security camera
system for all schools.
3. investigating alternate and more cost
effective Internet Service and phone circuit
Provider solutions
4. continuing implementation of new VoIP
phone system and evaluating additional
features
1.
2.
3.
continuing evaluation of Internet usage to
determine most cost effective solutions
investigating possible expansion needs to
security camera system
evaluating additional features for VoIP phone
system
Technical support for workstations and servers is
provided by district personnel. Parts are either
Technical support for workstations and servers is
provided by district personnel. Parts are either
Technical support for workstations and servers is
provided by district personnel. Parts are either
supplied by suppliers for equipment under
warranty or purchased by the district for out of
supplied by suppliers for equipment under
warranty or purchased by the district for out of
supplied by suppliers for equipment under
warranty or purchased by the district for out of
warranty repairs.
The district plans on:
warranty repairs.
The district plans on:
warranty repairs.
The district plans on:
1. establishing a secondary main data center
as Active/DR site
2. evaluating our existing security camera
infrastructure for future upgrades,
enhancements or replacement
3. procurement of larger UPS for main
data center
4. evaluating the installation of a gas-powered
emergency generator to power our main
data center during power outages.
Continue migration to SchoolWires web site
services by expanding the deployment with
active sites and teacher created web sites.
3. implementing an upgraded security camera
system district wide to better meets industry
standards.
4. upgrading bandwidth between buildings that
are 1 GB to 10 GB
1. installing a gas-powered emergency
generator to power our main data center
during extended outages
The district plans on investigating the use of cloud
data services.
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1. Evaluating security camera system for
additional cameras and features
The district plans on implementing cloud services
for portions of data network
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
3 Year Technology Enhancement Description:
A. Core Objective:
The district maintains a wide variety of hardware, software, supplies and services that
provide:
•
Educators and students with access to technology that enhances learning,
instruction and productivity in a variety of instructional settings including
individual or group work in the classroom, computer lab or media center.
•
A multitude of Internet-based resources that may be used for independent student
research and supervised online learning and assessment activities.
B. What We Have Accomplished Over the Last 3 Years:
In the summer of 2011, the district embarked on a project to connect all district
schools with a fiber network. The fiber network would be paramount in supporting
all district technology initiatives for years to come. This includes expanded Internet
bandwidth, distance learning, security and communications systems, wireless
infrastructure and online assessments. We have continued to expand our BYOD
initiative and will soon start a one-to-one device project for grades 3-12. The district
has continued to rollout Google Docs to where now every student has an account used
for collaboration with other district students and staff. Our email server has been
upgraded to Exchange 2010 and with the upgrade to Office 2010 district wide our
internal communications have been improved.
In the summer of 2012 the district upgraded its wireless infrastructure district
wide to an Aruba 802.11n network to accommodate anticipated increases in both
district-owned and BYOD wireless devices. A CIPA compliant Internet filter from
Bloxx was installed along with a Barracuda SPAM filter. Internet bandwidth over the
past 3 years has grown from 40 MB to 500 MB in an effort to keep up with ever
increasing demand for on-line resources.
Desktop computers around the district have been upgraded with newer
refurbished Dell GX745 and GX755 models having 4 GB of RAM and faster
processors. These refurbished computers also come with a lifetime warranty
thereby capping future repair expenses. The oldest computers which were in the
Elementary schools, High School South, Thompson/Thorne Middle School and the
Board of Ed offices classrooms were upgraded along with the oldest computers labs
at HS South.
Our core infrastructure has been upgraded with higher speed data switches,
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
increased data storage and upgrades to our VMWare virtual server farm.
The district has implemented several administrative applications to assist in efficiently
running the district. These include:

Aesop – Staff attendance management

Applitrack – Job applicant tracking

VersaTrans – Student transportation management

PayForIt – On-line meal payment processing

AirWatch – Mobile device management

Destiny – Secondary school library management

SynreVoice – Parent and Staff Phone Blast/Email/Text communications
system

SchoolWires – Hosted web site services

Parent Portal – Portal for Power School
With regard to curriculum, effective September 2012, the middle school math
program is a totally digital program that incorporates interactive example and videos in
the daily lesson and allows students to do their homework assignments online with
assistance where necessary while enabling teachers to formatively assess student
performance prior to the next day’s lesson. Each middle school mathematics classroom
has five ChromeBooks to facilitate groupwork and differentiated instruction. Also during
the 2012- 2013, the lower level high school Algebra I classes were given access to the
Fuse Algebra I program that utilizes iPads to enhance instruction.
As of the 2012-2013 school year, elementary and secondary students and teachers
participate annually in a month-long Technology Challenge. Each day a new web-based
resource or application that supports learning and productivity is highlighted for students
and teachers to use in the classroom. At the end of each Technology Challenge, the district
hosts a Technology Celebration that allows teachers and student to demonstrate/present
some of the projects they have created using the various web tools and programs.
Effective September 2012, My Learning Plan was purchased by the district to review,
approve, inform, and keep a record of professional development district-wide.
C. Planning for the Next 3 Years (Funding permitted):
The largest driving force in the implementation of technology at Middletown is the
integration of technology in the classroom for instruction and the upcoming PARCC online assessments. The district will be using a combination of wired and wireless devices to
drive infusion of technology into the classroom and curriculum. In preparation for the
technology requirements/guidelines of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers (PARCC), the district has been and will continue to upgrade desktop
computers. A move to Windows 7 operating system will begin. We have placed many
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
ChromeBooks in classrooms and will be moving toward one-to-one devices in grades 3-12
district-wide. Mobile devices such as ChromeBooks and iPads will be essential as the district
moves towards an anywhere anytime computing environment at school and at home. The
district will be mounting video projectors and Smart Board technology in the secondary
schools to bring the classroom environment on a par with the Elementary schools.
Internet bandwidth will continue to be increased to keep up with the demands of
PARCC and online curriculum initiatives. A strong infrastructure to support increased
numbers of wired and wireless devices will be essential. The district will be evaluating
the new 802.11ac wireless standard to support greater densities of mobile devices. We
will be investigating enhancing our wireless network security as well as improving
methods for supporting BYOD. Our network switch infrastructure will be evaluated for
performance upgrades. The recently completed fiber network will allow consolidation
of technology services and greater redundancy for increased uptime and efficiencies.
Our phone systems will be upgraded to support the latest telecommunication
technologies. Upgrades to our web filter appliance will be required to allow for
anticipated future Internet bandwidth increases.
A new IP-based security camera system with increased storage capability will be
installed to enhance building security with possible connections to door locks and
building alarm systems.
To address long term power outages such as those experienced during Hurricane
Sandy, the district will be looking to install a gas-powered generator at our main data
center. We will also be looking to establish a disaster recovery data center at our
Bayshore Middle School.
With regard to curriculum:
During the 2013-2014 school year, we have implemented a Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative that incorporates:

Educational Technology Specialists at the elementary level;

Family Engineering Nights at the elementary schools;

STEM Specialists at the middle schools; and

STEM Pathway for high school students
Funding from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst
Business and Partnership Office has been utilized to support the middle school STEM
initiative during the 2013-2014 school year. Plans are in place create a co-curricular
STEM club in each middle school effective as of the 2014-2015 school year.
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
To support the implementation and integration of technology in the classroom,
Middletown has created six Educational Technology Specialist positions at the
elementary level effective September 2013.
Support is being provided to students and teachers district-wide to utilize Google
Docs to complete writing assignments, collaborate on projects and presentations, create
surveys, register online for professional develop, etc.
The elementary literacy program, adopted effective September 2013, includes:

online access to all resources for teachers and students, both in school and at
home;

the use of use classroom sets of iPads in kindergarten through second grade
classes and classroom sets of ChromeBooks in third through fifth grade
classes to access leveled text for guided and independent reading;

a newly written curriculum, adopted July 2013, that incorporates a multitude
of web-based resources, available electronically to teachers.

LibGuides subscriptions are being introduced in the Spring of 2014 to support
the development of high quality research skills.
The middle and high school literacy and middle school social studies curricula,
adopted effective September 2013, also incorporate a multitude of web-based resources,
available electronically to teachers. The high school social studies curricula are being
revised to incorporate such resources as well effective September 2014. Humanities
teachers of grades six through twelve have access to CICERO’s fifth generation of The
Online History Textbook. All ninth through twelfth grade humanities classrooms have
carts of ChromeBooks.
The elementary mathematics program is scheduled to be updated effective September
2014 to incorporate online access to additional resources as appropriate for alignment to
the Common Core.
Effective September 2013, all high school Algebra I classes have access to the Fuse
Algebra I program that utilizes iPads to enhance instruction. Plans are in place to expand
this program for use in the middle school Algebra I classes effective September 2014. In
addition, the Fuse Geometry iPad program is being piloted during 2013-2014 for possible
district-wide adoption effective September 2014.
Examples of some of the technology applications implemented during annual
Technology Challenge for 2013-2014 and demonstrated during the 2014 celebration
included: Symbaloo, PowToons, Poplet, ReadWriteThink Timeline, Edmodo, Wetly,
Animoto, Go Noodle, Google Drive, Campaign Feedback, Educreations, Class Dojo,
iMovie, Pixton, and the online version of the World Book Encyclopedia.
As of the Spring 2014, all educational specialists—i.e., reading, mathematics,
technology, and STEM—have been issued either a MacBook or iPad (or both) to assist
them in fulfilling their job responsibilities.
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
III. Needs Assessment
The Middletown Twp School District works interactively with the teachers and staff during
the course of each school year through in-person meetings and other forms of communications to
receive input of technology needs. District Tech Specialists survey staff on tech instructional
needs and provide in-class training in areas of need. BOE administrators meet weekly and
building administrators meet monthly to discuss technology needs among other issues. A
committee made up of multiple staff from each school meets several times yearly to guide the
district in making future purchases and integrating existing technologies. As an example it was
from these meetings that a decision was made to use iPads in Grades K-2 and ChromeBooks in
Grades 3-12.
During the month of October 2013, the Middletown Township Education Association was
given the opportunity to offer input for the district’s three year technology plan. The survey was
administered through a form created using the Google platform. There were four-hundred seven
responses (407) of which each level of instruction responded. Below outlines their responses as it
relates to the technology needs of the district:








75% of respondents use technology at least two or more times per week in their classrooms
The primary use of technology in the classroom is teacher directed presentation
o 24% of respondents present with technology
o 19% of respondents use technology for interaction
o 19% of respondents use technology for research
It is substantial to say that teachers want the district to purchase more laptops, tablets, and
Chrome books
Students are using technology in the classroom to research, access educational websites, and
publish/create student work
73% of respondents feel our technology is current or exceeds current levels
Respondents feel that focus should be emphasized on device purchase and professional
development (52%)
Expansion of district purchased web applications was overwhelmingly wanted by staff
Considerations that staff feel we should have in our plan:
o Increase bandwidth and overall infrastructure
o Increase professional development as it relates to technology
o Increase the support personnel in the technology department
o Move printing capabilities to a wireless model
o Purchase more web based applications
o Move in the direction of 1:1 device capability
Overall, the staff feels that we need to continue in the direction we have started since this
administration took over. They are happy with the large purchases made this year and look
forward to increasing the devices in their classrooms.
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
IV. Three-Year Goals
A. The needs assessment results show a need for providing additional devices to further student
access to technology.
1. Goal 1 – Start a one-to-one deployment of ChromeBooks in Grades 3, 6 and 9. This objective
integrates with the district’s implementation of Google Apps for Education as students will use
their Google account to login on the device and access their applications and saved documents.
2. Goal 2 – Continue deploying ChromeBooks in 2015-16 and perhaps be in a position to have one
device for every student in Grades 3 through 12.
B. The needs assessment results show a need for additional Internet bandwidth.
1. Goal 3 – Install a second Internet circuit of 500 MB with capacity of 1 GB
2. Goal 4 – Install upgraded CIPA-compliant web filter to handle the increased bandwidth
requirements.
C. The needs assessment results show a need for a strategy to minimize network downtime (VDI desktop
access, staff e-mail, and Power School, Internet access in the event of an extended power failure.
1. Goal 5 – Provide emergency gas generator backup power to the network operation center in the
event of an extended power loss.
2. Goal 6 – Creation of a DR site at the Bayshore Middle School
D. The needs assessment results show a need for updated A/V equipment in secondary schools
1. Goal 7 – Provide new wall-mounted projectors, document cameras and Smart Board
technology in classrooms at High Schools, mount existing projectors and Smart Board
technology in Middle Schools
E. The needs assessment results show a need for updated desktop computers
1. Goal 8 – Install updated desktop computers in District computer labs and classrooms
F. The needs assessment results show a need for updated network and physical security
1. Goal 9 – Add ability to wireless network to better control onboarding of mobile devices and
prevent unauthorized access
2. Goal 10 – Install upgraded unified security camera system in all schools
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Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
V. Three-Year Implementation and Strategies Table
Three-Year Technology Implementation Activity Table
District
Goal
Strategy/Activity
Timeline
Person
Responsible
Documentation
1
Start a one-to-one deployment of ChromeBooks in
Grades 3, 6 and 9.
Summer 2014
Network Manager, Purchasing bid documentation
Network Tech,
Computer Techs,
and Outside Vendor
2
Continue deploying ChromeBooks in 2015-16 and
perhaps be in a position to have one device for every
student in Grades 3 through 12.
Summer 2015
Network Manager, Purchasing bid documentation
Network Tech,
Computer Techs,
and Outside Vendor
3
Install a second Internet circuit of 500 MB with
capacity for 1 GB
4
Install upgraded CIPA-compliant web filter to handle the
increased bandwidth requirements.
Spring 2014
Network Manager,
Network Tech
Testing report from ISP.
Internet speed test reports from
various sites
Summer 2014
Network Manager,
Network Tech and
Performance testing results
Outside Vendor
5
Provide emergency gas generator backup power to the
network operation center in the event of an extended
power loss.
Summer 2014
Network Manager, Testing results of automatic failover
Facilities Dept. and simulating a power failure
Outside Vendor
15
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
Three-Year Technology Implementation Activity Table
District
Goal
6
Strategy/Activity
Timeline
Summer 2014
Creation of a district DR (disaster recovery) site at the
Bayshore Middle
Person
Responsible
Network Manager,
Network Tech and
Documentation
Testing of backup and recovery processes
Outside Vendor
7
Provide new wall-mounted projectors, document cameras
and Smart Board technology in classrooms at both High
Schools, mount existing projectors and Smart Board
technology in Middle Schools
Summer 2014 and
Summer 2015
8
Install updated desktop computers in District computer
labs and classrooms
Summer 2014 and
Summer 2015
Network Manager,
Network Tech and
Computer Techs
Inventory data on oldest computers,
golden image creation
9
Add ability to wireless network to better control
onboarding of personal devices and prevent unauthorized
access
Install upgraded unified security camera system in all
schools
Summer 2014
Network Manager,
Network Tech and
Computer Techs
Network Manager,
Security Admin,
Facilities Dept.,
Outside vendor
Wireless network maps, personal
device permission forms
10
Network Manager,
Facilities Dept.,
Principals and
Project documentation, electrical
diagrams, manufacturer spec. sheets
Outside Vendor
Summer 2014
16
Building maps, camera
coverage diagrams
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
VI. Professional Development
A. Describe the planned professional development strategies by addressing each
of the following questions:
1. How ongoing, sustained professional development to all educators (including
administrators) that increases effective use of technology in all learning
environments, models 21st century skills, and demonstrate learning experiences
through global outreach and collaboration in the classroom or library media
center?
The following professional development opportunities are being offered to the staff:
•
Technology training at in-services and out-of-district workshops. This will
include, but is not limited to the following areas: subject area in-services
including new curricular adoptions and ongoing support for existing district
adoptions, Microsoft Office productivity software suite, PowerSchool student
information system, Destiny library automation system, Office 3000 business
software application, Edmentum, and SMART Board integration.
•
E-mail communication from Information Technology department
imparting technology material/instructions—i.e., using dedicated
browsers in the classroom, clearing the cache, removing pop-up blockers,
utilizing SplashTop to access to access network folders, etc.
•
During monthly staff meetings, district in-services, grade level meetings,
departmental meetings, and Professional Learning Communities, educators
will be provided opportunities for articulation regarding technology infusion
to support 21st century skills, digital citizenship, and the facilitation of
independent student learning.
•
The district will continue to reach out to its own in-house “experts” in the
various areas of technology to turn-key professional development to their
colleagues via “Master Teacher Innovation Labs”.
•
Professional development in the area of STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics) fields will continue to be increasingly
incorporated.
•
Opportunities for out of district conferences, workshops, and seminars will
be offered to all educators to further the effective use of technology and
assist with the infusion of 21st century skills.
•
Monthly district administrative council and principals’ meetings where
attendees receive technology updates, information, and training as needed.
17
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
• Monthly Superintendent and Business Administrator Roundtable meetings,
National School Boards and New Jersey School Boards conferences
• National Education Association (NEA), New Jersey Education Association
(NJEA), Monmouth County Education Association (MCEA), and Middletown
Township Education Association (MTEA) conferences/workshops/online
training
• New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) and New Jersey
Federal Program Administrators (NJPFA) workshops/conferences
2. What professional development opportunities, resources, and support (online or in
person) exist for technical staff?
•
Technology staff has training opportunities at district in-services and out-of-district
workshops. This will include, but is not limited to the following areas: Microsoft
Office software suite, Power School student information system, Destiny library
automation system, Surpass Library automation system, KACE computer management
system, Aruba Wireless network, Active Directory, Google Apps for Education, Office
3000 business software application, and SMART Board integration.
•
Quarterly county Technology Director/Coordinator meetings
•
State Conferences (NJASBO, TechSPO)
•
Vendor in-house and out-of-district workshops
•
Meetings and phone conversations with District technology consulting firm
•
Self-paced technology resources available on the Internet
•
Knowledge transfer among technology staff members
•
Technology staff meeting
3. How will professional development be provided to educators on the application of assistive
technologies to support educating all students?
•
Professional development for educators on the application of assistive technologies to
support educating all students is provided in both formal and informal settings.
•
Formal setting professional development includes hands-on workshops for
Middletown’s special education teachers. Upcoming PD for all special education
teachers will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, and Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
•
Informal professional development occurs throughout the school year, and is provided
to the educational teams of students with disabilities who use assistive technology. PD
is typically provided in small-group or one-on-one settings at the student’s
school. Any Middletown educator may request assistive technology PD, either related
to a specific student or as a class-wide support.
18
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
B. Projected professional development activities that will continue to support identified
needs through 2016, including all partners.
Projected professional development activities are as follows for 2013-2016:
Projected Professional Development Activities for 2013-2016
2013-2014 School Year
2014-2015 School Year
2015-2016 School Year
Training to introduce teaching staff to
online resources that support the new
elementary language arts literacy
adoption, Edmentum, etc.
Training to introduce teaching staff to
online resources that support the new
elementary mathematics adoption and
any other new adoptions.
Training to introduce teaching staff to
online resources that support the new
curricular adoption.
Ongoing training to support existing
curricular adoptions such as digits in
middle school mathematics, CICERO in
secondary social studies, etc.
Ongoing training to support existing
curricular adoptions including the
elementary Journeys language arts
adoption, etc.
Ongoing training to support existing
curricular adoptions including the
elementary Journeys language arts and
mathematics adoptions, etc.
Various Power School SIS training
Continued Power School SIS training
Continued Power School SIS training
SMART Board training
Continued SMART Board training
Continued SMART Board training
Office 3000 training
Continued Office 3000 training
Continued Office 3000 training
Microsoft Office Productivity Suite
training
Continued Microsoft Office
Productivity Suite training
Continued Microsoft Office
Productivity Suite training
Aesop attendance system training
Continued Aesop attendance
system training
Continued Aesop attendance
system training
District website management
Continued district website management
Continued district website management
Google Docs training
Continued Google Docs training
Continued Google Docs training
Classroom technology
curriculum integration training
Classroom technology curriculum
integration training
Classroom technology curriculum
integration training
District website management training
Continued District website
management training
Continued District website
management training
VMWare management training
Continued VMWare management
training
Continued VMWare management
training
Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008
training
Continued Windows desktop & server
OS training
Continued Windows desktop & server
OS training
Active Directory, KACE PC
Continued Firewall, Load Balancer,
Content Filter, Anti-spam appliance,
Continued Firewall, Load Balancer,
Content Filter, Anti-spam appliance,
Ericom VDI, and Exchange server
training
Ericom VDI, and Exchange server
training
Continued distance learning (Skype,
etc.) software training
Continued distance learning (Skype,
etc.) software training
management, Firewall, Load
Balancer, Web Content Filter, Antispam , VDI, and Exchange email
server training
Distance learning (Skype, etc.)
software training
19
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
VII. Evaluation Plan
A. Describe the evaluation process that enables the progress and effectiveness goals to be
monitored.
The Middletown Township School District employs a variety of methods to determine and
evaluate the effectiveness of integrating technology into the curricula and instruction. Some
of these measures to evaluate, monitor, and correct include:
 Lesson plans and formal and informal classroom observation and teacher feedback will
provide evidence of increased fluency accessing and implementing the wide variety of online
resources that are an integral part of instruction K-12.
 Professional development will include the integration of technology (e.g. CICERO Kids
for new K-5 Social Studies curriculum, the use of appropriate technology to facilitate “flipping
the classroom” instruction, etc.). Teacher feedback and lesson plans reflecting NJCCCS and
CCSS will provide evidence of the effectiveness of technology enhanced delivery of
curriculum.
 District professional development and building-based PLC’s will promote the use of
appropriate technology tools (i.e., LibGuides in our K-5 classrooms to develop high quality
digital/technology-based research skills, formative assessment tools, etc.). Classwork, student
presentations and collaborative projects will provide evidence of technology integration.
 Students keyboarding skills will be evaluated to determine the impact of regular
keyboard instruction embedded in all elementary classes.
 Lesson plans and formal and informal classroom observations and teacher feedback
will provide evidence of increased use of iPads, Chromebooks and Google Docs for classwork,
homework, presentations and collaborations.
 District, departmental and building-based professional development will be designed
and implemented through the publishers of newly adopted eBooks and online resources (i.e., in
World Languages, middle school mathematics via the digits program, etc.). Lesson plans,
classroom observations, teacher and student feedback will provide evidence of the impact of
technology enhance instruction.
20
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
B. Describe the process to make mid-course corrections in response to new
developments and opportunities as they arise.
The Middletown Township School District Central Office administrators meet weekly to
discuss all aspects of the district including technology, curriculum, personnel, business, facilities,
operations and student services. This allows for the development of synergy between all district
operations and allows for quick adjustment to district short and long term plans. Decisions made
at these meeting are disseminated to district personnel via memorandums, email, phone and inperson conversations. The district also holds monthly meetings with all district school
administrators to discuss district developments and direction.
The district holds several meetings over the course of the year with technology stakeholders
from every school to discuss technology issues, plans, goals and desires. This is a valuable tool in
determining the technology direction of the district.
As new technology emerges, the district technology staff and curriculum specialists evaluate
the potential for integration in our curriculum and possible use in the classroom. Those
technologies that are deemed promising are piloted in select buildings/classrooms and if
successful are considered for adoption.
21
Middletown Township School District Technology Plan (2013-2016)
VIII. Funding Plan
Three-Year Educational Technology Plan Anticipated Funding
Table
(First Year)
ITEM
Digital curricula
Technology
Equipment &
Supplies
DESCRIPTION OF ITEM
TO BE PURCHASED
Upgrades
Other services
LOCAL
FUNDING


Desktops, laptops, tablets, servers,
SMART Boards, document cameras,
projectors, and ink/toner cartridges.
















Web Filtering appliance
Software/Licensing VMWare, Barracuda Anti-Spam and
Firewall, Commvault Backup
software, School Connects, Citrix
Xen VDI, Microsoft School
Agreement,
Maintenance
STATE
FUNDING
Digital textbooks and instructional
systems
Network/Capacity Gigabit switches, Internet pipes
Filtering
FEDERAL
FUNDING
Warranty and preventative
maintenance supplies
Wireless Infrastructure, Phone
System, Security cameras
Website hosting, Technology
consulting services



22
MISC. (e.g.
Donations, Grants)
