September+24,+2009

BCMS Technology Committee Meeting September 24th, 2009, 3:30 at BCMS LMC

Agenda:

1. Schedule Meetings
 * Tech Committee Meetings will be scheduled once a month on Tuesdays. Dates are: 10/27, 11/17, 12/22, 1/26, 2/23, 3/23, 4/20, 5/18, 6/15.

2. Scanners and laptop status
 * The LMC will let the Help Desk know where they would like scanners installed.
 * There were questions about how laptops were turned in and returned to BCMS staff. This is a pilot test, and we are figuring this out as we go. There were problems with what equipment was returned (2 power supplies, cables, laptop, case). We will have to revisit the "return" process next year. There should be a check of exactly what is returned, what Tech Office takes from BCMS for updates, and what Tech Office returns to BCMS. The process this year let peice fall through the cracks, where people didn't get all of the pieces they expected. I believe at this point, this has been resolved and BCMS staff in the laptop pilot have all of the equipment on the sheet. The signed laptop sheets have not been returned to the Tech Office at this point in time.
 * There were questions because staff didn't get the same laptop this year. The Tech Office position is that we do not provide equipment for individuals, but for classrooms. Although we kept all staff in the BCMS laptop pilot from last year to this year, we do not guarantee a teacher will get the same laptop year after year. We upgrade the computers, and return them to users. The same is true with classroom computers, we do not move computers with a teacher when a teacher moves, and we do not guarantee the computer that was in the classroom last year will be there this year.

3. New vidoe cameras //I currently have the camera with me for the week-end (9/25). Will return it to the LMC next week. Fun, fun, fun.. Sandy// 4. Videoconferencing equipment
 * Mac gave the Middle School a Flip Video camera to test. This is a new type of video camera that could replace the current video cameras BCMS has. The Tech Committee should report feedback to Mac after testing the Flip Vidoe camera.
 * A Polycom videoconferencing unit has been left in the Middle School. This is for District use, but left in the Middle School because we believe it will be heavily used at BCMS. This unit is high definition quality and can be used with anybody who has H232 format equipment (museums, colleges, some authors, etc.). Mac will contact OneVisions Solutions to get instructions for use of the equipment and to change the configuration of camera.

5. Upgrade presentation computer in front of LMC
 * There was an issue using the presentation computer with the projector in the LMC. BCMS staff will report probelm to Help Desk.

6. Shared Folders issues
 * There was a lot of confusing about network folders. This summer, network folders were reorganized. Best case scenerio was that this would be transparent to staff--best case scenario didn't happen. When staff log onto the network, they should see network folders for their Home (only that staff member can see), Shared Staff (for files shared among staff), Shared Students (that allows for drop boxes, and information that staff want to share with students that have student access), and Student Folders (the students folders should be visible by staff, this was not the case, but I believe this has been corrected).
 * The Tech Office will create documentation to describe how the new network folders are organized, then they will meet with a select group of BCMS Tech Committee staff so they can explain this to the rest of the staff.
 * There was a concern that staff were being asked to justify what shared folders are created for and that they had to say who had access to them. The new organization of shared folders requires the Tech Office to identify an owner of the folder and to provide access rights to the folder. Everybody can see all shared folders, and download files--but permissions allow for deleting and adding file to the folders. The Tech Office wants an identification of the folder to know what is out there in case there is a question or problem with the folder. A BCMS staff member could request a folder with full BCMS access.

7. Palm pilot updates
 * This is a conundrum. Although the Palm Pilot is being used in wonderful ways by half a dozen staff members, it is requiring enormous amounts of attention for Tech Office staff and from BCMS staff. Especially at the beginning of school, the Tech Office is flooded with high priority problems, and we do not have the staffing to spend on this.

8. Laptop cart protocol
 * I don't believe this was addressed.