Instructions:  If the District Technology plan does not follow the sequence of the required elements for the technology plan, the district is requested to submit a "Table of Correspondences."  In this table, for each requested element, where the element is to be found within the existing technology plan should be specified in the "location" column.  Use page numbers, paragraph numbers, section labels, and/or leading words for relevant text to point precisely to the matching components in the district plan.  Post the Table of Correspondences (and Addendum if included) on the web and include the exact URL in the district's Consolidated Application.

IDENTIFICATION
 

                                                           SWEETWATER CITY SCHOOLS

NEEDS ASSESSMENT: At the present time, the only part of the needs assessment that has been completed is the Tennessee STaR Chart. The individual school results are located at the end of this document. Based upon the findings of this assessment, a more detailed needs assessment will be done during the 2002 – 2003 school year and an amended technology plan will be developed in the spring of 2003.

SWEETWATER CITY SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT: We are charged with improving the lives of the children in our school community. Every decision we make and every action we take must be based on one criterion--that which is in the best interest of children. A child leaving Sweetwater City schools should have a firm academic foundation, particularly in language arts and math, for continued learning in high school and beyond; and should be prepared to become a responsible member of the community.^*

It is our responsibility to provide a quality learning environment, knowing that children learn best:

-when they are involved

With computers in every classroom access to technology can be provided on an equal basis to all

-when they experience success academically and socially

Technology can provide opportunities for all levels of students from increasing abilities in basic

-when their emotional needs are met in a nurturing environment

-when they feel safe and secure

Access to Internet filtering software and choice of educational appropriate software will provide

-when learning is meaningful

-when they are taught at their development level

These students live in an age of technology and so are more comfortable with and motivated by

-when the teacher accepts professional responsibility for the child’s learning

-when parents and adults are involved

Technology is becoming a basic part of our society, so familiarity with technology is a necessity

Technology and hands on teaching should be used to enhance learning.

Classes and curriculum should be flexible enough to address different learning styles.

Schools should use technology to create more diverse educational delivery systems.

Schools should provide laptop computers with all available information at students’ fingertips.

Schools should provide multi-grade and multi-age settings.

Schools and classrooms should be well equipped and be models for other systems to follow.

Students should be excited about learning and have a desire to learn.

Students should be accepted by employers of the community as being competent.

Curriculum should be coordinated to the interests of the students.

Teachers should be eager to learn and not afraid of change.

Teachers should be able to motivate students.

Technology should be used as yet another commonplace means to the end: improved student achievement that prepares students for the endless possibilities available to them after graduation, whether it prepares them for further educational opportunities or for a job in today’s workforce. Technology in the classroom is not the end itself – just an important means to the end. Technology remains a fabulous tool in the teaching and learning process for today’s K-12 student and teacher.

Successful schools in today’s society must become professional learning communities, not only for the students, but also for teachers and staff. Technology is such schools plays one of the most important roles, since technology cannot be separated from the personal and professional lives of our citizens. Students must prepare, and teachers must be prepared to engage the students in the learning process. Technology must be infused into daily curriculum activity in each classroom It cannot be separated out and be an effective means to the aforementioned end: higher student achievement.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (as related to technology):

Faculty and staff will have access to a strong professional development program that will

allow them to increase competencies needed to meet the needs of the students.

The time line for these objectives is ongoing.

-SCS will provide professional and technical in-service to teachers and staff in the following

Students will demonstrate competencies in reading, language, math, science and social

studies. (time-line)

-Students will demonstrate competencies in math through an ongoing evaluation of current

[The above objectives are tied to documented student needs, including measurable student

outcomes, teacher training, technology resource needs and individuals responsible for the

planning.]

State-of-the-art technology will be used to improve student learning. (time-line)

-SCS will migrate from 486-33 and lower platform to managed machines (7/1/03)

[SCS has less than 20 machines to replace for this objective to be accomplished]

-SCS will investigate a WAN for machine management (7/1/03)

-SCS will work toward a version of Thin Client software which will allow controlled access to the

schools servers from home. This would allow students and teachers to utilize school servers to

work from home. (7/1/05)

Students will develop skills to help them prepare for future education and/or the workforce. (time-line)

-SCS will work to develop benchmarks of technology proficiency for each grade level (7/1/05)

Students will be challenged to achieve beyond minimum curriculum standards.*

-SCS will develop additional challenging extra curricular activities for all students through

Educators: All educators (classroom teachers, librarians, administrators, and the educational technology

staff) are encouraged to work and plan together to incorporate into curriculum planning the student

development of information literacy. Each building principal is encouraged at one faculty meeting per

month to open the discussion for matters concerning technology incorporation into teaching. In addition

to the building level technology contact, one member of the system-wide technology staff will also meet

with each faculty.

Community: The community of Sweetwater has a very small business base. We have a couple a businesses

that are technology intensive. We have, on several occasions, used these businesses for in-service and for

student orientation for technology use in the workplace. SCS will continue to use these businesses and

work to develop a broader base of contacts of community members who are technologically adept. A broad

base of parents will be involved in the needs assessment that will done in the fall of 2002. Building

principals will be encouraged to include parents on school-wide advisory committees.

Currently, SCS has all classrooms connected to the internet. Each classroom has a dedicated teacher

station. Each classroom also has at least one other computer connected to the internet. SCS plans on

working toward placing mini-computer labs (three to four computers) in each 4^th through 8^th grade

classroom.

Currently, SCS has technology available to all students and teachers. SCS has a free and reduced lunch rate

of almost 60%. Our population is poor and over the last several years has become even poorer. SCS feels

that it is imperative that the system continues it’s efforts to make technology available to all of our students

and teachers. SCS is currently field testing the ‘loaning’ of older machines to families that do not have

access to a computer at home.

In addition to the professional development goals listed on page one and two of this document, SCS plans

to continually provide out staff with the opportunity to improve their skills in integrating technology into

their teaching. Over the next three years, SCS will investigate the creation of technology performance

benchmarks not only for the students but also for the professional staff as well. Over the past two years

SCS has developed curriculum maps that include links to websites that can be used in the teaching of

particular objectives. It is the intent of the technology committee to continually look for ways to increase

the skills of both our students and our staff.

Current budget (2002 – 2003 school year):

-Equipment, wiring, upgrades, and maintenance $ 15,000.00

-School based technology funds (equipment/software) $ 86,000.00

-Technicians $ 57,000.00

(The system contracts with one technician for up to 100 days of service

@ $170.60 per day. Also, the system contracts with LTVEC for one day per week of

service with their technician.)

-Future budget:

Our future budget depends heavily on local, state, and federal funding trends.

We do not foresee any reduction with some increases in maintenance and salaries

for technicians.

Currently, SCS uses a PC platform and Windows OS. All of our computers are able to share in the use

of our building-wide software (Horizon, Accelerated Reader, SkillsBank, etc.). Our plan at the current

time to continue acquiring these compatible machines and software. All technology orders must go

through the district technology department for approval. The department checks to see that the hardware

ordered has the necessary components to function properly when installed, that the hardware will support

the software ordered, and that the software will not conflict with existing software or hardware

components.

As part of the SCS Technology Plan, leaders at the district, school administration, and teacher levels will

be identified. Strategies include:

-teachers and administrators exemplifying effective educational technology integration strategies will be

spotlighted in the system-level newsletter that goes out to school board members and other interested

parties;

-school principals will model effective technology practices by utilizing email for school communications

and for improved communication between school and home;

-teachers and administrators will demonstrate technology leadership that will improve communication

through classroom and school web pages.

School Board Descriptor Code: IKK

CONTENT STANDARDS

In order to take advantage of the opportunities the Internet provides, the Board authorizes the creation of

School and/or district web pages on the Internet. Only those web pages maintained in accordance with