Community Technology Advisory Committee
Background
Over the past few years technology has become increasingly important to Port Angeles School District students. During the past five years schools have been using a combination of district capital funds, grant funds, and gifts to support technology purchases, installation, and training. Among the largest single grants was the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation Model Schools Grant for school reinvention, a portion of which was permitted to be spent on technology. District-wide infrastructure acquisition received significant support from the district’s portion of the grant. The Microsoft Teacher Leader Project grants received by nearly three dozen district teachers represent another significant influence on district technology.
The district has for several years prepared a technology plan as required by the state. The school board has approved the plan, and been unable to provide resources to fund many of the components. The board received technology training from the Washington State School Directors Association, and asked community members to review the plan. The board wished an examination of the plan’s relevance to the community’s needs, and to better understand the community’s willingness to commit resources to achieve technology education goals. The Community Technology Advisory Committee was formed during in fall 2004 to recommend a technology levy funding strategy to support ongoing technology needs.
The one-time funds devoted to instructional technology have, with minor exception, been spent. Computers and infrastructure requires significant investment to maintain and replace. Operating budget reductions undermine the district’s ability to support classroom technology needs. A capital (technology) levy was offered in February 2005, and failed to gain a 60% supermajority. The board did not offer the capital levy again in 2005, and must consider when next to offer the capital levy, and the levy characteristics. The superintendent re-appointed and the school board confirmed on October 24, 2005 the members of the Community Technology Advisory Committee to reconvene and restudy the district’s needs and provide funding recommendations.
Committee Charge
As a result of the committee’s reformation, and the district’s ongoing need to repair, replace, and improved instructional technology for student achievement, the following charge is established:
- Re-examine the district and school technology plans, and recommend improvements;
- From a “technology futures” perspective suggest aspects of the plan that need adjustment;
- Recommend a reasonable, justifiable level of funding request (via capital levy); and
- Recommend communications strategies that will engage the community in dialog leading to deeper, broader understanding of the technology needs students face in 2010 and 2050.
March 27, 2006