Red Rock Central Schools

District #2884

Technology Use Plan

Dr. John Brennan, Superintendent

Red Rock Central Elementary School

107 East Clark Street
PO Box 68
Jeffers, Minnesota 56145
507-628-5521

Red Rock Central Junior Senior High School

100 6th Avenue East
PO Box 278
Lamberton, Minnesota 56152
507-752-7361

March 2007

RRC TECHNOLOGYPLAN ONLINE REPORT @ http://www.rrcnet.org/~techplan

INTRODUCTION

Red Rock Central Schools serve 1800 households, and the 4000 residents of four communities and surounding townships of Lamberton, Sanborn, Storden, and Jeffers, located in southern Redwood, western Brown and northern Cottonwood Counties of southwestern Minnesota. The Red Rock Central School system partners with businesses and organizations within the district to provide a dynamic wide area network that provides excellent learning opportunities for all. The unifying organization for this resource network is the Red Rock Central Community Network or RRCNET. This organization, originating within the school system, provides an extended school to community by providing Internet access to nearly 500 users in four school districts in ten communities covering more than 1000 square miles, including main street businesses and other businesses within our agricultural based communities. Our prominent collaborators include the world's largest insect rearing facility, the University of Minnesota through the Southwest Research and Outreach Center, and county government.

MISSION STATEMENT

The RRC School Community will promote and provide students and staffwith a technology-rich educational environment that supports:

* Individual Needs	* Awareness of Global Community	* Skill Development
* Problem Solving	* Lifelong Learning	* Appropriate Curriculum Use

OUR OVERALL MISSION IS TO PROVIDE OWNERSHIP OF ALL LEARNING RESOURCES
TO THE WHOLE RED ROCK COMMUNITY

Red Rock Central 2006-2007
TECHNOLOGY PLANNING COMMITTEE
Dr. John Brennan, Superintendent of Schools
M. Bruce Olson, Secondary School Administrator
Mr. Charles Nordby, Media Specialist
Mrs. Winifred Churchill, High School Lab Supervisor
Ms. Sharon Musegades, Elementary Support Staff
Mr. Leonard Runck, RRC Network Admin.
Mrs. Paula Derickson, RRC Board Member

The Technology Planning Committee conducts the research and with instructionalstaff, recommends the curriculum, software, and hardware procurementfor the district. The Technology Planning Committee provides a forumfor acquiring data on staff, student, and community needs for all technologyaspects including staff development opportunities.

A needs assessment is conducted to acquire data to determine deficienciesin student performance, student access to information services, deficienciesin staff knowledge, skills, and instructional delivery techniques, andschool access to available electronic resources. All target populationsof the school system and community will be assessed. Criteria forneeds assessment includes, but is not limited to:

Educational programs and services delivered
Technology integration objectives
Technology performance objectives
Automation of the school district operation
Electronic information services

Information is collected from staff and students during April and May; andtechnology plan revisions and development evolve from the Technology Committeerecommendations. The Technology Planning Committee strategicallyevaluates the current assessment data by comparison to previous baselinedata to determine prioritized modifications to achieve the goals specifiedby the plan.

The Technology Plan evolution process is enhanced by a student, staff,and community survey completed every three years. The surveyis formulated to collect data on student learning through knowledge, skills,and competencies, on staff utilization of technology and teaching techniques,and on community perceptions and learning opportunities. The resultsof the surveys are instrumental in providing baseline data and evaluationof overall goals.

Through RRCNET, the technical training staff is certified and experiencedin Microsoft, Novell, and Unix. The professional staff is equippedas well to provide training in a full spectrum of learning experiencesin word processing, database, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, electronicresearch techniques, internet web based learning, video/audio productionand editing, and computer programming languages.

The Technology Planning Committee reviews the current curriculum offeringsand opportunities, the integration of the use of technology in the entireschool program, the available hardware, software, and equipment each year. Reflective of the mission of the District, The Technology Planning Committeeevaluates the established goals for technology education. The Committee,with the assistance of the entire professional staff, recommends strategiesto meet the needs of the students. The Committee addresses the financialresources and outside funding sources. The procurement of technologyis based on the comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of needs, goalsand strategies.

NEEDS----GOALS----STRATEGIES

NEED
1. Students need to recognize, internalize and utilize individual strengthsto be effective communicators.

GOAL
1. Students will effectively communicate through oral and written languageand through presentations.

STRATEGIES
1.1 Students will create a presentation supported by a variety of multimediathat demonstrates the style and extent of their learning.
1.2 Staff will participate in training to use technology as a toolto teach effective communication in all curricular areas.
1.3 Students and staff will be trained in the use of multimedia andother technologies as an assessment tool.
1.4 Students will use word processing in the writing process acrossthe curriculum.
1.5 Staff will use word processing and desktop publishing in theircurricular and other professional needs.
1.6 Students, staff and parent community will be trained in and haveaccess to voice mail and e-mail directly linked to the classroom.
1.7 Students will have access to training in media presentations; includingcommunication, editing, advertising presentations and production.
1.8 Students and staff will be able to interpolate data from a varietyof multimedia.

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NEED
2. Students need to develop an awareness of themselves as part of thelarger global community.

GOAL
2. Students and staff will have an awareness that they are part ofa global community through a variety of meaningful experiences.

STRATEGIES
2.1 Students and staff will be able to communicate, learn, share andapply information gained on the Internet in all curricular areas.
2.2 Staff will learn and model the use of long distance technologybased resources as part of the instructional program.
2.3 Students will collaborate with other schools in a meaningful wayvia the Internet to develop and implement community projects.
2.4 Students will participate in conflict management strategies tosolve problems of a personal and global nature.
2.5 Students will create and publish newsletters in collaboration withother schools.

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NEED
3. Students need to demonstrated and utilize basic skills necessaryto function in a technology based society.

GOAL
3. Students will utilize and demonstrate basic skills needed to functionin a technology based society.

STRATEGIES
3.1 Students will use word processing to increase their writing skillsacross the curriculum.
3.2 Students and staff will be trained on various forms of technologythat they will use to complete specific tasks throughout the school day.
3.3 Staff will have opportunities to explore and experiment with variousforms of technology and instructional materials in their subject area.
3.4 Staff will maintain a database of interdisciplinary lessons thatare cross-referenced by topic, strategy and learning styles.
3.5 Students will be trained in the use and maintenance of variousforms of technology available in each classroom.
3.6 Students and staff will have access to software that includes spreadsheets,databases, graphs, and desktop publishing.
3.7 Staff and students will have training in how to set up and implementdistance learning via web based learning (example - WEBCT via Bemidji State University, web site maintance via FTP, and online encyclopedias.

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NEED
4. Students need to demonstrate an ability to use successful, creativeproblem solving strategies in real life situations.

GOAL
4. Students will demonstrate an ability to use higher order, criticalthinking skills to solve problems in real life situations.

STRATEGIES
4.1 Students will be trained to use technology to expand the resourcesavailable in problem solving situations.
4.2 Students will apply software analysis to data collected throughclass projects and field study.
4.3 Students will problem solve in groups and individually utilizingscientific equipment and methods to create hypotheses and conclusions.
4.4.Students will construct Geographic Information Systems of localfield study sites.
4.5 Given an issue or a project students, staff and community willuse available technology to come to resolution or completion.
4.6 Students will participate in Exploring Technology Education projectsin the areas of biotechnology; communications; construction; manufacturing;and power, energy and transportation.

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NEED
5. Students need to have a repertoire of skills to become lifelong,independent learners.

GOAL
5. Students will develop a repertoire of skills to become lifelong,independent learners.

STRATEGIES
5.1 Students will use technology to gain access to original documents,newspaper articles, textual records, speeches and other historical events.
5.2 Students will receive training that expands their knowledge ofreal life applications and future career opportunities related to new technologies.
5.3 Students and staff will maintain an ongoing relationship with thebusiness community which may include, career exploration, workshops andinternships.
5.4 Students will deliver instruction to peers through electronic media.
5.5 Students will participate as a class in software to help them makeinformed career, occupational, and educational decisions.

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NEED
6. Automation of Management Systems and access to ElectronicGovernment Services (EGS).
GOAL
6. The Management of student, staff, and administrative systemswill be automated with issues of privacy, security, and efficiency preserved.

CURRENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Elementary School - Accelated Reader - networked reading program
Northwest Evaluation Association (www.nwea.org) online student testing
Online reporting of student attendance and grading via JMC
JMC

Attendance/ Tardiness/ Discipline
Grade Recording
MARSS

LIBRARY AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Circulation
Search
Database

AUTOMATEDLUNCH SYSTEM

Wordware

STRATEGIES
6.1 Administrative hardware and software will be periodically evaluatedand updated.
6.2 Access to administrative information delivered by electronic meanswill be enhanced to reach their full potential.

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NEED
7. Departmental Technology Plan
GOAL
7. Individual departments will dictate the overall developmentalgoals of the technolgy plan for the district.
STRATEGIES
7.1 The Staff Development program of the district will addressdeficiencies in skills, knowledge and attitudes of staff.
7.2 The Staff Development program will address the training andtime needs.
7.3. Staff will address technology integration.
7.4 Collaborative efforts of staff, administration, and communitywill be made to enhance technology implementation.
7.5 Staff will be responsible for their curriculum development.

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NEED
8. Electronic Service Delivery
GOAL
8.The school district will collaborate to provide and maintain an activeweb presence.
STRATEGIES
8.1 Web based information will be maintained on the RRCNET websiteto provide current information related to school, community, and businesses.
8.2 The website will be continuously updated by efforts of staff, studentsand community experts.
8.3 Email accounts will be maintained and monitored for students andstaff by RRCNET.
8.4 Every effort will be made to provide content filtering and security.
8.5 Students and staff will be encouraged to use network services toobtain and submit assignment information.
8.6 School Board information will be published on the web site.
8.7 Staff vacancies will be posted on the web site.
8.8 Accessing Federal and State programs will be availed electronically.

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NEED
9. Development of Wireless Infrastructure
GOAL
9. Provide a wireless initiative to support the strategy of a mobiledata network.
STRATEGIES
9.1 Explore grant funding.
9.2 The wireless initiative will provide faster/improved access tostudents at home who are presently relying on a outdated POTS network.
9.3 This instruction network using the unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM carrierfrequency will provide offsite training to community members and businesses.It is IEEE 802.11 Wireless Ethernet standard.
9.4 Off school site learning experiences such as data collection inthe field will be enabled.
9.5 Wireless would enable moving technology resources out of the traditionalschool building and into real life business and work experiences such asSchool to Work activities. Graduation Standard Requirement activities couldbe easily offered off-site.
9.6 TIMETABLE: Market to existing remote access users that indicate a stronginterest in the convenience, speed, and quality of aquiring a remote wirelessnetwork. We have studied the economic feasablity comparing to remote accessvia dialup network. Presently we are in the stage of implementing thisnetworks as part of our RRCNET remote access initiative.
9.6 GOAL: Expand existing wireless network capacity by implementing 5 Gigahertz wireless backbone connectivity to improve networking between communities. Funding would be derived from existing business partners.

MEASURABLE BENEFITS TO STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY

AREA	OBJECTIVE	EXPECTED BENEFIT	MEASUREMENT CRITERIA	CURRENT POSITION	FUTURE POSITION
High School	Increase student use of Internet	Students will access information for research and reports	Portfolio of student research reports listing Internet references	20% of students in grade 8 70% of students in grade 9 80 % of students in grade 12	40%-- Gr. 8 90%-- Gr. 9 95%-- Gr. 12
High School	Increase student skills using network and computer services.	Students will show proficiency using computer services.	Student assignments, projects, and assessments	80 % of students in grade 9	90% --Gr. 9
High School	Integrate training courses	Students will acquire technology skills in a variety of courses.	Courses offering integrated applications	1 required 2 elective offerings 4 Integrated courses	1 requried 5 Integrated
Elem School	Increase student competencies	Students will use computer technology for learning	Student assignments, projects and assessments	70 % of elementary grades completing projects	80 %
Staff	Increase staff use of Computer technology	Improved student learning	Number of teachers using computer technology	70% of staff	80 %
Admin	Increase productivity	Reduce time spent for duties	Number of staff using tech methods	80 % of staff	90%
Com- munity	Increase use of Internet	Increased community learning opportunities	Number of Internet accounts	900	1000
RRCNET users	Improve delivery of data services	Faster & reliable connection compared to POTS dialup service	Measure speed and presence. Monitor custormer request for help database utilizing Microsoft Server 2003 "Sharepoint"	150	300

MANAGEMENT POLICY

Equitable Access

Red Rock Central School is committed to providing learning materials andactivities that can increase access for learners with wide disparitiesin their abilities to see, hear, speak, move, read, write, and understandEnglish, attend, organize, forcus, engage and remember.
Red Rock Central School is committed to ensure that the educational technologypurchased and used in the district is accessible to all students, includingstudents with disabilities. The acquisition of this equipment will be madebased on appropriate planning, purchasing, and support.

Data Privacy/Data Security/ Acceptable Use

Red Rock Central School is committed to manage government data consistentwith the public information policies and requirements of the MinnesotaGovernment Data Practices Act , Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, and theFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Red Rock Central School is committed to ensure the integrity of computerizedinformation resources, protect them from unauthorized access, modification,destruction, or disclosure, and ensure the physical security of resources.
Red Rock Central School has adopted a formal Acceptable Use Policy. Compliance with CIPA is done with SonicWall and Watchguard Firebox II Internet Content Filters.

Disaster Recovery

Red Rock Central School is committed to provide security in data retrievalin the event of a disaster. Redundancy and data backup managementis incorporated in the building management operation. Backup tapesare made daily on Novell and UNIX servers. Data tapes and redundant datamedia will be stored outside each physical plant. Appropriate disasterwarning devices will be researched. Redundancy of servers will be shared with neighboring school districts and businesses.

MANAGEMENT OF LEARNING RESOURCES

Technology resources acquired for RRC Schools will be carefully managedand equitably distributed. The District Technology Coordinator, BuildingAdministration, Media Specialist, and Technology Committee will work togetherto maintain an accurate inventory of the hardware and software available,and will be responsible for scheduling their equitable and effective use.Staff and students trained in technical troubleshooting will be available,and these people will be on-call to help when needed. Technical supportresources outside the professional and student staff will be hired onlyas needed. This technical staff will research and make recommendationsfor issues of security, updating/replacing hardware, and disaster recovery.

Systems Development Life Cycle. Technology resources availablewill be evaluated by the Technology Planning Committee on an on-going basis. Replacement of components of the infrastructure from workstations, hubs,routers, switches to internal cabling will be made as deemed necessaryin a timely fashion as specified in the inventory schedule. The replacementof components will occur when the device no longer meets the basic technicaland operational requirements. The replacement schedule will be coordinatedwith funding resources available.

Technology Support Staff and Skills

Title	Name	Skills	Assignment
Network Administrator	Leonard Runck	UNIX Linux Novell Certified Microsoft Certified	RRCNET Administrator Dial-up Project Coordinator Technology Coordinator Tech Support
Media Specialist	Charles Nordby	Electronic Media Web Development	Librarian/ Instructor
Technology Coordinator	Leonard Runck	Multiple OS Softwares	Instructor- Computer Applications Tech support Elementary Tech Support- Administrative JMC
Industrial Tech Instructor	Steve Wegman	CISCO & Novell Certified Microsoft	Novell instructor Industrial Tech instructor
Computer Lab Supervisor	Winifred Churchill & Sharon Musegades	Microsoft Novell	Lab Supervisor
Student	Josh Frederickson	Windows support	RRCNET Tech Support
Student	Christina Larson	Accounting	RRCNET Accounts Manager

STAFF/SUPPORT STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Professional development provides all administrators, teachers, instructionalassistants, clerical staff, food service workers, and custodial staff alogical, sequential series of steps focused on the ways in which the schoolcommunity can be strengthened and enriched through a wide range of technologicalapplications. Staff development opportunities will be availed tostaff and administration. These activities will be provided by in-housetrainers and outside professional resources.

ON-GOING DEVELOPMENT

The technology plan will be a web based document which will evolve at timelytechnology committee meetings.

CURRICULUM MODIFICATION

HARDWARE UPGRADES
BUILDING NETWORK EDUCATION - TCP/IP, Novell, IPX

INTEGRATE REMOTE ACCESS INTO COMMUNITY AND K-12 EDUCATION
WEB SERVER CONTENT - CLASS CURRICULUM POSTING AND LESSON PLANS

TRAINING CIRCLE - STAFF to STUDENTS to OTHER STUDENTS to COMMUNITY MEMBERSand back to STUDENTS & STAFF

CHART K-12 LEARNER PORTFOLIOS - chart the student interaction with communitymembers

COMMUNITY EDUCATION OFFERINGS: Intro to MacIntosh and Windows XP computeroperating systems, Beginning Internet Classes, and Power Point Presentations.
AUTOMATED ATTENDANCE SYSTEMS

JMC Attendance/Grade Recording/ Scheduling/
Graduation Standards Reporting

AUTOMATED STUDENT TESTING SYSTEMS:

Northwest Evalution Association (www.nwea.org) test reporting - 24 hour results availability
Compliance with Federal "No Child Left Behind" and "Adequate Yearly Progress" policies.

TECHNOLOGY INVENTORY

***Red Rock Central Schools maintain a complete itemized electronic inventoryof all hardware and software.***

JEFFERS CAMPUS

TYPE OF EQUIPMENT	DESCRIPTION OF USE	HOW MANY	REPLACEMENT CYCLE
Novell Server DELL RAID Level 5 disk drive redundancy	Instructional/ Administrative storage and retrieval	1	replace every 5 years - present age, 2002 model
Macintosh workstations >180 MHz	Computer lab and classrooms	15	5 years
Macintosh workstations < 180 MHz	Computer lab and classrooms	40	2 years
Novell Server	Storage, retrieval, and processing of Staff and Student data	1	5 years
PC Workstation	Library Circulation	1	5 - 8 years
PC Laptop	Administrative Use	1	4 years
PC Workstation	Food Service Management	1	5 years
Printers	Administrative	3	5 years
Printers	Instructional	8	3 years
LCD Panel	Instructional	1	5 years
Flatbed Scanner	Instructional	1	5 years

LAMBERTON CAMPUS

TYPE OF EQUIPMENT	DESCRIPTION OF USE	HOW MANY	REPLACEMENT CYCLE
Novell Server DELL RAID Level 5 disk drive redundancy	Instructional/ Administrative storage and retrieval	1	replace every 5 years - present age, 2002 model
Internet Server DELL RAID Level 5 disk drive redundancy	Web page Internet & email server	1	replace every 5 years - present age, 2002 model
Accessory Servers	Internet and Novell	6	replace every 5 years
Novell Training Server	Novell Class	1	5 years
PC Workstations	Computer Labs and Classrooms	70	3-5 years
Macintosh Workstations	Computer Lab and Classrooms	40	3-5 years
Projection Devices	Instructional	2	5 years
Scanner	Instructional	2	5 years
Printers	Intructional	15	2-5 years
PC /Mac Workstations	Administrative	6	1-5 years
Digital Cameras	Instructional	2	1-3 years
Wireless Inventory & Dial-up Modem Servers	RRCNET Remote access	2	1-7 years

BUDGET DEVELOPMENT

Capital Sources

District Contributions from Capital Expenditure Fund
State and Federal grant programs
Local Contributions
Etrepreneural projects

The Technology Planning Committee will review the collaborate with theDistrict Administration and School Board to reach concensus on annual purchasesof technology hardware and software systems.

Year	Total Budget Commitment	Detail	Amount
2004	30000	Hardware Software Staff Development Maintenance	24000 1000 1000 4000
2005	30000	Hardware Software Staff Development Maintenance	24000 1000 1000 4000
2006	40000	Hardware Software Staff Development Maintenance	34000 1000 1000 4000

MEASUREMENT AND ACTION PLAN
Measurement

A formally conducted survey was completed in May 1994; May 1997; May 2001; and January 2004. This survey was completed by students, all staff, parents and communitymembers. The tabulated results of this survey provided baselinedata for improvement plans for technology programs in the district. The updated survey will be completed in March 2004. Surveys, interviewsand informal discussions with teachers, students and parents will be conductedat the end of each year to evaluate the effectiveness of the managementsystem. A formal survey instrument used in 1994, 1997, 2001 and2004 will be modified and adapted to provide suitable evaluation of districttechnology issues. The 2007 survey will be conducted online, utilizing Microsoft Server 2003 software.

Action Plan

This Technology Plan intends an on-going commitment to facilitate the useof technology resources available to the students, staff, and communityserved. The NEEDS, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES section of this plan lay out theexpectations and direction of energies and focus for the district. The expected timelines for implementation of this plan are from schoolyear 2007- 2009. Publication of the progress and implementation ofthis plan will be included in the School District Annual Report on Curriculum,Instruction, and Student Performance.

Evaluation

Technology implemention as specified by the scope of this plan will beevaluated by the Technology Planning Committee. This evaluation willinclude measurement of progress on:

New and Improved Services
Recognized improvements in skills and expertise of students, staff, andcommunity people
A commitment to budgetary considerations
The Action Plan and the quality improvement process.

Formative evaluations will be conducted throughout the technology planimplementation and will help in developing ongoing updates to the plan. Evaluation strategies include:

Progress on objectives specified in NEEDS, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES
Feedback from staff, students, and the community
Final summation by the Technology Committee

Survey

During January and February of 2004 an online survey was conducted of community members, high school teachers, elementary teachers, paraprofesionals, administration, staff and students. Web site links of these surveys are as follows:

http://209.105.74.151/hs = High School Student Survey

http://209.105.74.151/paraprof = Paraprofessional Survey

http://209.105.74.151/elemk2 = K - 2 Elementary Student Survey

http://209.105.74.151/elem36 = Grade 3 - 6 Elementary Student Survey

http://209.105.74.151/elemteach = Elementary Teacher Survey

http://209.105.74.151/teachers = High School Teacher Survey

http://209.105.74.151/community = Community Survey

The survey server was setup as a Microsoft Front Page Extentions server using Windows Server 2003 Operating System software. Results were similar to past years as the students and teachers are asking for new workstation hardware and the community requesting that the school web pages be updated more frequently.

Footnote

Red Rock Central School has established a commitment to providing thebest available resources for its technology program with the limited fundsallocated in a very tight budget. This technology program is aprogressive, efficient, and comprehensive program that can rival any commercial or school technology program in Minnesota. The success of the program is evidenced by the excellent competency levelof students completing the school program and the unparalleled communitydevelopment fostered by the RRCNET dial-up & wireless access project. Our students,staff, and communities are very well equipped for the 21st century.

The Red Rock Central School Technology Team is pro-active. Technologydevelopment, implementation, and maintenance at Red Rock Central Schoolis accomplished by doing.

The 2006 Technology Committee.