Meeting+Minutes+May+12,+2011

Attendees: Berry, Bruff, Connelly, DeAngelo, Leone, Morley, Pasquini, Reilly

Getting a couple more active hubs

School view or Lanschool will require professional benefit and structure during roll out

BEST meeting- will be covered here

Updating on pending equipment purchases A couple of funding models Leverage as much as possible Elementary school- replacing some laptop technology Can’t discount the iPads and iPods- from an Apple perspective looking at a more heterogeneous group of tools. Can a cart contain a mix of laptops, ipads, etc. Pilots next year. Decision makers will approach those who are going to be involved in the process. Trying to approach things in a comprehensive manner

ETTT- 3 groups of teachers trying to pursue the grant and get an idea of the hardware allotment- hope to test out a group of ipads. Not sure what is available yet.

Sal will send out a comprehensive email updating everyone on the move to Windows 7 and Office 201o/11 and migrating to MS Outlook web based 2010 version- switch date Monday July 11th

There will be a varied approach to F2F, webinar and small group training. Basic features are straightforward for basic. More advanced features will require the training.

Home licensing should extend the O/S as well as the Office products. Not sure when to expect availability

Power School without Bond there is not a way to wholesale change our student information system. Can SMS work for us for 2-3 more years? When will be the best time to make this change? Do we pilot volunteers to try out and test some systems to help make a good decision. Power Teacher grade book is the one we will be trying. Think we need to change information systems in 2 years. Accountability data from the state and fed are the driving force for the change. Initial investment is about $100,000 vs. $20,000 current expense.

Study Island use is lower but people do not want to let it go. Decision in July in conjunction with the new principal. Math people seem to use it the most. If we keep it for another year how do we include some professional development opportunities? Need to rejuvenate teacher’s interest.

Tech academy at MS. August 23-25 modular 3 day period. 3 – 1.5 hours sessions or any variation block that will work for the courses Comprehensive list. Registration through models schools and PDP. New teacher orientation- will have it but there will not be a large # of new hires.

Navaar Johnson will be in the MS next year and Steve will move to the HS.

A direction we need to move in— eBackpack- anywhere anytime access to content another option NERIC sharepoint is showing potential. Some schools are using it already. Right now we have too many disparate answers

Next meeting will be June 9th

Sandy- digital music bank for staff. Need for background music to be used by staff. Copyright consideration. Maybe an inexpensive subscription service would be useful. Creative Commons allows you access. Could be a nice school resource page.

HS- nook pilot next year. Groups of 6, cost about $150 each. We need to be thinking about these things.