District sees tech study as dire need

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Pontiac school district sees tech study as dire need

By DIANA DILLABER MURRAY
Of The Oakland Press

Herrington Elementary students Candace Johnson (center) and Adonnis Loving use laptop computers on Tuesday, with guidance from teacher Michael Mickens.

The Oakland Press/DOUG BAUMANPONTIAC - Up-to-date technology is critical to the success of the Pontiac school district's five-year strategic plan to improve schools, district officials say.

That is why Interim Superintendent Calvin Cupidore called on the Oakland Schools intermediate district to do an assessment of the school district's existing technology. A report is expect- ed in the next few weeks.

"Technology is one of the linchpins of the whole plan," said Cupidore. "You are only as good as the technology support. It affects the whole aspect of our district."

Oakland Schools' review is designed to give a road map of enhancements that could benefit and enhance the technology department and delivery of services throughout the district, he said. "It is something that has been embraced by the board of education and the administration has initiated this for overall strategic planning," Cupidore said.

This is one of several projects Oakland Schools has initiated as part of what has become an ongoing partnership with the struggling Pontiac schools.

The technology assessment, like some other projects by intermediate district consultants, is being done at the expense of Oakland Schools. In other situations, the Pontiac school district has hired some Oakland Schools consultants on a temporary basis to help improve the district's services to students.

Additionally, Oakland Schools Superintendent Vickie Markavitch and her staff have been giving workshops to board members to help them improve governance, something Trustee Christopher Northcross said he appreciates.

"I'm excited about this particular operational review," Cupidore said. "And it will be even more exciting when we begin to implement more technology in our operations."

Cupidore said updating technology in the district would not only be good for students in the classroom, but would allow assessment data gathering to provide better instruction. Personnel development, accounting and financial reporting also would also be enhanced.

With new equipment and programs, all students will have the opportunity to learn to apply technology so they are prepared for a career when they complete school. It could also open up more communication between schools and parents, Cupidore added.

The goal for technology should be the same as the goal of the new curriculum - "The same from site to site and grade to grade," Cupidore said.

"Technology helps the teachers deliver effective curriculum and helps children learn a variety of subjects as well as how to use the technology and its real-world applications," Cupidore said.

"Look around and see what technology is used in career fields. It is all over. Everywhere you look, its application is felt.

"You've got to compete in a global world and it should be part of your development. You have to have it," Cupidore said.

Markavitch said the intermediate district serves all the county school districts.

"We have had other districts ask us to do an assessment of their technology systems. We've done human resource reviews and business office reviews and sometimes curriculum reviews," Markavitch said.

"We do this when a local district wants an outside view of how things are working. Sometimes we come in with our own people or we contract it out," sometime to retirees who are experts in those fields, she said.

"I believe our people started earlier this month and are working under the direction of Tammy Evans, director of Oakland Schools technology.

"It is a very comprehensive review," Markavitch said. "We will look at all the systems, infrastructure, equipment, training needs of personnel, business systems and whether they are integrated so they can speak to one another."

The team is also evaluating whether programs need upgrades or replacing.

Cupidore said the report will be part of the administration's strategy for the goal of technology development.

Coming up with funding to support development may not be easy. But Cupidore said under the plan, funds are going to be redirected to where they most help students in the classroom.

There are funds that district administrators can apply for to help with technology and officials hope to form some partnerships to get more computers in the classroom as well, said Cupidore.

He pointed to state Rep. Tim Melton's efforts to provide computers throughout the community where students can take advantage of them.

The district also plans to continue to apply for matching funds under a special program called E-Rate, which has helped the district pay for hard wiring and technical equipment.
According to the Web site www.schoolloop.com, the E-Rate program (Education Rate) was created under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which required telecommunications providers to give discounted services to schools and libraries.

The program has provided such discounts for telecommunication, Internet access and internal connections amounting to about $2.5 million nationwide annually. Cupidore said the district matches 15 percent of the cost.

Contact staff writer Diana Dillaber Murray at (248) 745-4638 or diana.dillaber@oakpress.com.