Facilities and Technology

District Facilities Operations:	Formerly known as maintenance and operations.
Contact:	Drew Walker
Year/Funding:	2006-07: $642,688 ongoing
Notes:	The 2006-07 funding provides $156,055 or a 36% increase in the materials, supplies and equipment budget for this department. It also provides $486,633 for 11 new positions for the department. The initial request was for 14 new positions. The Committee recommends the remaining positions be funded in future years from realized savings from efficiencies gained from the proposed comprehensive facility plan.
Monitoring/Accountability Summary:	Aug. 15, 2007 - Facilities Operations – did not ask for additional staffing or increase in budget for materials. Trying to solidify where we are currently. Many schools have their own separate seasonal grounds crews. There was some confusion about whose duties where whose and what products were used. We have developed a grounds plan and talked to NCHS, KWHS, DMJH and PS. NCHS transferred their seasonal staff to DFO and DMJH will do this next year. May have different approach at KWHS. Trying to manage grounds in a more efficient approach. We can hire 20 seasonal staff, but due to shortage only able to hire 9 people. May try to recruit from Senior Citizen center to help with planting and irrigation of plants. Looking at different options to get more seasonal help hired with HR. When buildings hire seasonal staff, their salaries will come out of the buildings’ budget. Schools don’t have the equipment that DFO has to manage grounds, so this could be a contributor to why grounds have not been kept up as well.

Custodial Operations:	Ongoing improvements of Custodial Operations
Contact:
Year/Funding:	2007-08: $44,000 ongoing
Notes:	This provides a 16% increase in the supplies and equipment budget for custodial operations. This is to be used to offset the increasing cost of these items.
Monitoring/Accountability Summary:	September 6, 2007 - Custodial Update – Morgro Ice Melt 27 is the new produce chosen and is being purchased to replace salt. It is USDA approved and environmentally extremely safe. (It is less toxic than baking soda.) August 15, 2007 Update - Custodial Update - The budget is ongoing for $44,000 which is an increase. We are putting in electric dryers in new schools for restrooms instead of paper towels. SFC also gives us of 4.3% of budget for FF&E. We plan ahead to get a list from custodial services for custodial equipment that will be new for that school. We are partnering on finding a new product for removing ice from schools. The current product is very damaging to concrete and grass and doors. We’re looking for a more environmentally friendly product.

Technology:	This project provides increased access to technology for all students and staff.
Contact:
Year/Funding:	2006-07: $1,342,000 ongoing; $71,980 one-time 2007-08: $1,121,000 ongoing; $65,000 one-time
Notes:	The 2006-07 funding provides for the following: $220,000 ongoing funding for 4 IT Technicians $47,000 ongoing funding for 1 Database Assistant $55,000 one-time funding for a District Site License for Microsoft Office $16,980 one-time funding for SASI Server Upgrades $575,000 ongoing funding to increase the budget for technology replacement and upgrades to $1,150,000 annually $500,000 ongoing funding to advance the digital environment for student learning, including advancing the Frontier Middle School one-to-one computer pilot The 2007-08 funding provides for the following:$11,550 ongoing funding and $65,000 one-time funding to provide District email to students $45,000 ongoing funding for 1 Network Support Technician $88,724 ongoing funding for 2 Apple Certified Repair Technicians $142,500 ongoing funding for the teacher laptop initiative $100,000 ongoing funding for upgrading and maintaining wireless access in the District $33,600 ongoing funding for increased internet bandwidth $700,000 ongoing funding for lowering the computer to student ratio A District wide technology and instructional materials summit will be held in late summer or early fall 2007. The summit will establish the District’s direction in these combined areas. Attendees will be representatives from all stakeholder groups. The plan will identify the implementation schedule by school and the additional resources needed to complete full implementation. Funding of these additional needs will be considered in future budget development cycles.
Monitoring/Accountability Summary:	February 8, 2008 - The technology leadership team recommended the expansion of high access learning environments for Kelly Walsh 9-12, Centennial JH 8th grade, and Starlane 9-12. Discussions are currently being held with CY JHS and DM JHS to determine an appropriate timeline and implementation plan for high access. A meeting with several interested elementary principals and representatives was held on February 7 to discuss issues surrounding the implementation of high access within elementary schools. Manor Heights and Park schools have contacted the Ed Tech office about the possibility of implementing high access for next year. The technology leadership team has recommended that laptops for teachers be connected to implementation of high access learning environments and that the educational technology department (C&I) and information technology department (F&T) be contacted when considering moving to high access learning environments. October 18, 2007 - All faculty members at all secondary schools have been trained in the use of First Class as a digital workflow environment for students. Additional follow up trainings are ongoing. The first technology leadership team meeting (digital summit) was held on October 11. Sub-committess were created and responsibilities were assigned. September 6, 2007 First Class System - The email system has been optimized for both technical and instructional purposes. All 6-12 students have been entered into the First Class system and accounts are active. A communication was sent to all NCSD staff notifying them about students being added to the FC system. The onetime costs are $52,000 with no expenditure of ongoing monies at this time. General training in the use of First Class with an emphasis on student features, has been established for all secondary schools. All but three of the schools have participated in the training or have established training dates. Additional Staff - The network support technician and the two Apple certified repair technicians are expected to be filled in October. Wireless - Centennial Wireless install will be completed by Sept 11. Kelly Walsh expected to be completed by Sept 18. The approximately $40,000 remaining will be applied to other schools depending on the outcome of other initiatives. Bandwidth - In conjunction with Qwest and the State of Wyoming, the district has contracted to increase the internet bandwidth beyond the initial plan of 40mb. Our outside connection will now be 90mb at no additional cost to the district. Teacher laptop initiative - This issue will be addressed at the technology leadership meeting (digital summit) in September. August 31, 2007 - Laptops have been purchased and distributed to all students at Frontier, and 9th grade students at Kelly Walsh and Centennial, and are currently in use. August 29, 2007 - The technology leadership meeting was postponed until September. A date has yet to be determined. August 13, 2007 - A one day basic computer training for all Kelly Walsh teachers was delivered by the TOSAs.