Changes Underway for the 2012-13 School Year

The first half of the summer is recent history, and our district's technical support team is hard at work preparing for the 2012-13 school year.  This school year brings some exciting changes for our students, changes that are part of the district's multi-year plan for increasing student engagement and achievement through the purposeful use of technology.

Come September, students will no longer have a network drive on a local server (with few exceptions such as digital art, music, and design), as this allows access to files only from within the district's network. Instead, all students will have "anytime/anywhere" access to their files through the district's Google Applications Portal and other online services such as SchoolWebLockers.

As students take advantage of 21st century technologies that enhance mobility, collaboration, and ownership, the district will no longer need to warehouse and back-up student work.  Students will have access to their files whereever they have an internet connection (including iPads, Droid devices, Smartphones and more) and the district reduces the resources needed to store and back up these files locally for more than 9,000 users.  This is indeed a win-win scenario, one that was promoted last year by the district's technology committee.

Other changes include improved access to reliable and age appropriate technology. Third, fourth, and fifth grades in each school will have expanded access to wireless technologies, and the district is in the process of installing wireless access points to support this model.  

In September, our elementary school students will have access to:

• A grade level set of wireless laptops for third graders
• A grade level set of netbooks for fourth graders
• A grade level set of Chromebooks/laptops for fifth graders
• Two additional computers in each K-3 classroom
• A SMARTBoard in each second grade classroom 

Students at Felix Festa Middle School will also benefit from greater access to technology. Upcoming changes for September include:

• Installing new desktop computers in the computer lab in A, C, and D schools as well as the library
• Laptops for use in math, science and physical education
• An additional fifteen desktop computers to support the Achieve 3000 initiative
• Thirty additional Chromebooks for the social studies department
• Ceiling mounted projection units for twenty additional classrooms
• Eighty five laptops for teachers (replaces classroom computer or teacher netbook)

Students at Clarkstown High School North will benefit from greater access to technology as well as a variety of updates.  Changes for September include:

• Replacing more than eighty outdated desktop computers, including an art lab, mathematics lab, English lab, and world language lab
• Replacing the fine arts Macintosh lab, including a state of the art server
• Replacing thirty science laptops
• Adding thirty netbooks to the social studies netbook carts
• Sixty laptops for teachers (replaces classroom computer or teacher netbook)
• Secure and filtered wireless access to support "Bring Your Own Technology" (BYOT) to support expanded learning opportunities for students and staff

Students at Clarkstown High School South will benefit from greater access to technology as well as a variety of updates.  Changes for September include:

• Replacing more than thirty outdated desktop computers
• Replacing the fine arts Macintosh lab, including a state of the art server
• Replacing sixty science laptops with Google Chromebooks
• Adding laptops and netbooks to the existing network carts
• Fifty five laptops for teachers (replaces classroom computer or teacher netbook)
• Secure and filtered wireless access to support "Bring Your Own Technology" (BYOT) to support expanded learning opportunities for students and staff.

Students at the Birchwood School will benefit from improved access to technology as well as a variety of network and wiring updates.  Changes for September include:

• Installation of additional desktop computers and laptops
• Rewiring classrooms, including SMART Boards and projection units
• Providing enhanced wireless access throughout the school