Donations and Grants
Campus Information
Platforms and Servers
Instruction and Support
Training and Staff Development
Systems
(NOTE: Information on this
page is outdated due to recent changes within our district... we will
update as soon as we can)
From the beginning, our district has tried to always be concerned with what the students can achieve with the “stuff,” rather than the stuff itself. But first, a little about the “Stuff.”
Donations and Grants
In the past, we’ve been very fortunate to have had active donations
support, with our largest supporters being NASA and Motorola (now
Freescale Semiconductor) with significant help from Texas Medical
Foundation and others. We were able to achieve a “One computer per
classroom” ratio first with NASA support back in about 1996 and have
been able to add labs for students with equipment from them and
Motorola. Many machines went to the Middle School where they were
tested, set up, formatted, and sent out to campuses by students (often
taking 2 or 3 computers and making 1 good one from parts). We had a
large donation in 3 segments from the Texas Medical Foundation of PCs
for high school student labs to supplement our existing equipment. We
have had donations of laptops from the Texas Insurance Commission where
those have been used primarily on the Intermediate and Primary
campuses. Our latest source of technology donations has been through
the UT Austin excess equipment warehouse. Due to costs associated with
donations, DSISD has developed guidelines
for accepting donated technology equipment.
TIF grants ($100,000, $300,000, $175,000) have
gone for upgrading labs, workstations, training, and networking ,
within the TIF requirements. The second grant also allowed video
projectors, printers, and certain software. The district receives an
amount (technology allotment) from the state, and a portion of this
funding goes to pay the loan, while the rest has been pro-rated to the
campuses. Our third TIF grant of $100,000 and $75,000 went to the High
School and Middle School respectively and provided a significant
improvement in equipment as well as increased training opportunities
for staff.
A 1998 loan went to a number of significant purchases...each campus
office was set up with PCs and high school teachers and high school
labs had PCs placed. Other campuses had Macintosh Labs added.
District Emphasis
The emphasis is not on the connections and “stuff” as we have taught
students with much less. To our earliest knowledge, technology
education in DSISD started with cassette tape drives networked for
TRS-80 computers and PCjr computers and has progressed greatly in the
last 20 years. However, the district has high expectations and our
students are high achievers, so our efforts center on acquiring
appropriate tools, technology and support for students (and teachers
working with students) to be successful. We have never lost the
awareness that the teacher is the instructional leader in the
classroom, and not a box of wires and buttons.
Primary
Campus
Primary students have access to two labs of computers, with one
mini-lab available as well. Students create their own work and learn
basics of computer use and keyboarding. Parent groups renovated the
Space Shuttle and provided computers that are used for science
education in the Shuttle. Those machines are currently used in the
Library. The campus has some equipment (computers connected to
microscope) that have really generated interest. As expected from the
TEKS, students have exposure to the Internet, appropriate to their age
and experiences. The Primary campus network consists of switches that
connect to a wireless connection for access to the rest of the
district. Distance and financial considerations were the main factor in
using wireless connections for this campus. Teacher ownership of their
instruction with support from the coordinator has enhanced learning in
many ways. There are four wiring locations at the Primary campus. The
latest addition to the campus is a wireless laptop lab in a cart that
can be used throughout the campus.
Intermediate
Campus
Two labs are available to Intermediate School students. Students work
on computer skills by doing projects, one class has created the web
site for the campus (www.dripping–springs.k12.tx.us/is ) and have
participated in the JASON project. Each campus has modern workstations,
and there are 8 student computers in the Library, providing additional
access. The campus network consists of hubs in each classroom, allowing
for additional computers to be added with minimal wiring needed. The
campus is connected by fiber to the district network. As with the
Primary campus, teacher ownership of instruction with support from the
coordinator continues to enhance learning on the campus. Only one
centralized wiring location was needed at the Intermediate campus, as
the hubs in the classrooms provide options for expansion.
Middle
School Campus
The Middle School was designed so that each grade would meet at the
technology/library resource area. A classroom lab was provided in the
center of each wing, and a multimedia lab was established next to the
centralized technology area. Minilabs are located in the 7th and 8th
grade English areas, sharing access between pairs of classrooms. A
portable building was brought in and World of Work and Technology
Education classes with modules are taught in this area. A TIF grant
allowed us to replace the aging hubs with switches and this campus is
connected to the district with fiber and add modern computer stations
to the library.
Middle School students have Tech-Ed classes (started as a World of Work program), video production classes, video broadcast classes (MTTV announcements daily), multimedia classes, and technology is widely integrated in classes. The Technology Assistant program has supported programs district-wide. The WeatherSchool site funded by Motorola (now Freescale Semiconductor) and KXAN-TV is located at the campus. There are six centralized wiring locations at the Middle School.
High
School Campus
Due to its size, the High School campus has concentrations of computer
equipment in many areas. Two rooms support BCIS instruction, a Computer
Science class in C++ is taught in one wing, and a lab in another wing
provides access by multiple classes. Two language minilabs are
constructed between adjoining classrooms, and Art classes have access
to one lab, while Video and CAD classes are conducted in another
classroom. Journalism and Yearbook classes have access to systems
supporting their curriculum and projects. Keyboarding is taught on
older but still useful computer equipment using traditional and
technology enhanced activities. A distance learning lab provides
additional instructional opportunities for students and staff
development. A mini-lab in the art classrooms provides additional work
areas for students. The library provides workstations for students and
staff. Teacher workstations with scanners and printers are available in
two workrooms. The high school web site is rather ambitious and is
produced by Independent Studies students within the Art department. A
writing lab has been established with repurposed computer equipment.
Because of the size of the campus, there are eleven wiring closets or locations throughout the building. In all but a few locations, the network is switched as provided through funding from the last TIF grant. The campus is connected internally with fiber and copper wiring and is connected to the district through a gigabit fiber connection.
Service
Center
The DSISD Service center, located west of the High School, provides
support for transportation, maintenance and custodial functions of the
district. The site has a control system for lighting, heating/air
conditioning and other control sensors around the district and connects
to devices through the district network. The site is connected through
a wireless connection, providing improvement over previous connections.
AEP
The Alternate Education Program is located in a building southeast of
the high school campus. Computer access is provided for administrative
purposes and student access allows students to continue work on
instruction. The site is connected through a wireless connection.
Central
Office
Over the past 19 years, the Central Office site has been used for K-12,
K-8, 6-8, 3-4 grades, and now has been converted into a central office
facility. The site serves as the center for the DSISD network, where
the fiber lines meet and the Internet connection to Region 13 is
accessed. The building currently provides rooms for Administration,
Community Education, the Hays-Blanco Special Education Coop, Community
Education, and the Child Development Center as well as a Board Room.
There are three wiring locations at the Central Office site.
Dial-in access to the network is possible through a 28.8 K modem connection VNC connections provide outside access as needed. A Learning Lab was created with computers acquired when the Zap Me! program ended, and those computers are used for district training as well as Community Education classes and IRS Assistance sessions. Funding
Platforms and FileServers
Our district was once mainly Macintosh-based and now is cross platform.
Macintosh computers are used generally K-8 (student and teachers) but
libraries have PCs mixed with Mac access. Students learn both platforms
and (hopefully) learn the benefits (advantages and disadvantages) of
both. All campuses have fileservers for staff and student use (3 at
Primary, 2 at Intermediate, 6 at Middle School, and 3 at High School).
All students have file space at Middle School, and high school students
have “class-appropriate” space for their work. Novell servers are used
in campus libraries for circulation and management. A Mac OSX server at
the high school supports the graphic arts area. A VERY rough estimate
is that we have about 400 PCs and 800 Macintosh computers for 3000+
students, putting us at a 3:1 ratio- considered pretty acceptable and
something we’ve worked towards. State target ratios for this year are
about 3:1. A Linux server at the high school provides file backup
service for servers.
Instruction
Our approach has been technology integration, not “packaging,” so in
general, you will not see students going into a lab, running a packaged
program. Teachers use standard technology tools (ClarisWorks, MS
Office, Photoshop, Pagemaker, iMovie programs) to teach curricular
concepts in new and different ways. The key to this process is and
always has been the campus technology coordinator.
In 1984, technology classes were provided to high school students using TRS-80 computers with files stored on a central computer and on cassette tape. High school students taught elementary school students how to use math programs for practice when all grades were on one campus. The next year, the new high school building opened and a lab of PCjr computers was acquired at a reduced cost. The middle school and campus libraries began using Apple IIGS computers for instruction and circulation (a 10 Mb hard drive was needed for the libraries at a cost of a few thousand dollars).
Other campuses acquired computers for administrative and instructional use. With a new Macintosh SE lab at the high school. the first network was installed in 1989 using telephone cable. By 1992, the middle school had three rooms devoted to technology education and provided a modem for leaving voice messages gathering the public's comments on a new middle school to be constructed. The elementary school added technology for student use and when the Intermediate school was formed, a lab was provided for those students. As early as 1994, the district hired a district instructional technology coordinator with individuals at each campus identified as campus coordinators.
Professional
Support
Currently, each campus is supported by a technology coordinator. These
are classroom teachers who specialize in supporting technology for
their campus, both instructionally and technically. Having a teacher
guide technology instruction has the added benefit of placing the
emphasis on instruction, rather than wiring and connections. We’ve seen
many districts where technology tells classrooms what is possible and
what can be done. We believe that instructional needs should guide what
direction technology takes. The coordinators perform a variety of
duties, including telephone system support, repair, networking, web
instruction and support, Skyward and FirstClass assistance, purchasing,
and technology integration.
The Primary Campus coordinator, Laurinda Schaertl, previously taught students in technology classes but began bringing teachers in to do the instruction and provides professional support for these teachers.
The Intermediate coordinator, Judy Kelley, also supports teachers in instructional technology and both campuses have had success as evident by the enthusiasm teachers now have for technology instruction. On both campuses, teachers supported by the coordinator provide direct technology instruction to students.
Middle School has been an early supporter of integration in the classroom and support for technology instruction, video production with an active student aide program, and other needs are provided by Bill Peace.
High School retired teacher Dennis Seale works half-time in Technology Support and has really made a positive difference the past few years in support for the high school.
Two district professionals, Kathy Leopold and Ed Palmer, support technology education at the district level and support campus needs through the coordinators. Kathy was a Middle School teacher and Coordinator for a number of years and Ed was teacher and Coordinator at High school. Kathy is now Director of Instructional Technology for the district and Ed is the Director of Technology Services for DSISD.
Together, the six technology educators have approximately 155 years of combined experience in education, with much of that involved in technology education.
The District Office oversees the district web pages and coordinates through the campus personnel the management of their campus sites. Kathy takes care of instructional issues as well as phone, bells, intercoms, budgeting, and distance learning and coordinates the purchasing of technology resources throughout the district. Ed works with networking, AUP, the FirstClass Communications system, virus protection, and web servers, and both overlap in many areas. An emphasis at the district level is to be “cross-trained” so campus and district needs are backed up. The district Technology Directors support the campus Coordinators and also provide “campus” support for the Service Center, the Coop, the central office, business office, Child Development Center,and the cafeteria staff. The district staff also pursues grants and e-Rate funding options.
With the Skyward Student Information System installation in DSISD in 2002, Kathy now heads the Student section of Skyward, supporting the district scheduling, reporting, student records management, gradebook, and other aspects of the student section. She also backs up the hardware side of Skyward. Ed supports the hardware section as well as backing up Kathy as needed with the student side of Skyward. Financial operations in Skyward are managed by the Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations, Dwane Shropshire.
Training and Staff Development
Part of the first TIF grant included training and training was included
over and above what was required for the grant. Every staff member
received training appropriate to their position. Instructional staff
received 12 clock hours on use of technology, acceptable use issues,
lesson integration, Internet safety, and Internet classroom resources
and lesson design. Paraprofessionals and other staff were given 6 hours
of support and instruction... these lessons were presented in 60-100
sessions- after school and on weekends.The sessions were presented by
the campus coordinators and district staff.
Along with other districts in Region 13, we had approximately 100
teachers participate in the TIE grant e-Teach program where teachers
created some very useful web pages and virtual field trips (which can
be used from our district web page). This was available in grades K-8
and our teachers took advantage of the additional training and support
as well as the additional equipment provided to campuses as part of the
grant.
Our district has provided several Intel “Teach to the Future” sessions and this has benefited staff throughout the district. Two of our administrators have participated in the Bill and Melinda Gates Technology Leadership Academy program. Campus coordinators and district directors provide scheduled and "just-in-time" training opportunities throughout the year.
Data
Information Systems
After a through search for the most appropriate Student Information
System for DSISD, Skyward was chosen to manage Student and Financial
information for the district. This added two Windows 2000 servers to
the district and teachers report attendance, record grades and have
access to additional information.
Communications
In Summer 2002, DSISD acquired a new communications system called
FirstClass. This system will greatly enhance communication within the
district and also with parents and other stakeholders outside the walls
of the buildings. The program replaced our email program, and add
conferencing features, calendar sharing, and support for hand-held
computing devices as well as provide access to classroom teachers to
update their web page.
District Systems
Skyward
DSISD uses Skyward for student information management and financial
management. Campuses use the system for scheduling, student discipline,
attendance, and information retrieval. Student and Parent access is
available at the high school that allows access to report cards,
scheduling, and other information through a password-protected access.
FirstClass
FirstClass is a communications system that combines email,
conferencing, web page service, calendaring, and many other features.
Messages are sent to conferences where common groups can read the
information and collaborate. Web pages can be updated from the desktop,
and calendars allow groups and individuals to keep informed of events.
Calendars are also automatically published to web pages where needed.
Energy
Management
Heating, air conditioning, and other control systems are managed in the
district through software systems based at the DSISD Service Center.
These controls are accessible from outside the district as needed
VersaTrans
VersaTrans software allows the Transportation department to set bus
routes and study patterns of travel and demographics.
Follett
Campus libraries use the Follett system of library accounting. They
also have software that allows them to access CD towers. These servers
are stored on each campus and backups are made locally.
Manager
Plus
This software package is a relatively new addition to the
Transportation department, where it allows them to keep track of
repairs, costs, and inventory on Transportation equipment. It is run
from a server located in the DSISD Service Center.
Distance
Learning
DSISD maintains a distance learning lab at the High School where
students may be enrolled in college credit classes, allowing them to
receive dual credit in some cases. This system has also been used to
receive training for different divisions in the district.
PCS
DSISD cafeterias use Point of Sale Terminals provided through and with
software from PCS Revenue Control. Each campus has terminals connected
to local PCs and the PCs receive updates and send data to the Business
Office through the school network.
AESOP
This online system provides our district with Substitute
Procurement services through telephone and web access for reporting and
securing substitute teachers. Records are also provided that streamline
data acquisition for substitutes.
Capco
In 1999, DSISD investigated costs of running fiber to the high school.
Once we received the figures, it was determined that we could not
afford this expense and we would have to rent T-1 lines if a connection
was to be made. Kyle Caps, a parent in the district and owner of Capco
offered to run the fiber at his expense and lease it to us at the same
rate as a T-1 line would cost and once the fiber is paid for, it would
become DSISD property. Working with local landowners and with the
cooperation of the Pedernales Electric Cooperative, we attached 11,000
feet of high quality single mode fiber to PEC poles and provided the
high school with a reliable, scalable access to the Internet. When we
added a distance learning lab at the high school, we were able to use
dark fiber from this connection to enhance what was in place, at no
additional cost.
Zeecon
In 2001, the district was approached by representatives from the LCRA
and a company from Marble Falls, Zeecon, Inc. Zeecon proposed to offer
the district free bandwith (double an existing T–1 capability) under an
arrangement with LCRA so they could enter the wireless Internet
provider market in Dripping Springs. We had a need to build two towers
for equipment provided through a TIF grant to improve the networking to
the DS Primary school. Zeecon offered to construct the towers at their
expense and then assign ownership to the District in return for credit
on rental to use the towers to provide wireless Internet to the
community. In addition, they would provide free Internet service to the
local Senior Citizen’s Center and the DS Community Library. DSISD also
has the option of placing its radio repeaters on the tower, thereby
reducing the rental cost being currently paid to private organizations
for this service.
Using this tower access, DSISD has been able to remove phone lines and ISDN connections needed for remote locations in the district and replace them with faster, secure wireless connections. Currently, the DSISD Service Center connects over the system, the Alternate Education Program (AEP) connects through the same system, and a point-to-point connection with the Primary school increased their connection speed and reduced telephone charges. Zeecon also provides the bandwidth to the district as originally offered.
Education
Service Center, Region 13
Region 13, located in Austin, provides invaluable support for many
aspects of technology education, as well as other service to school
districts throughout central Texas. In addition to keeping district
informed of technology issues through the ViTaL group, the Service
Center provides Internet Access, distance learning opportunities,
training, and e-Rate information. Filtering and other support is
included in the access cost.
Kronos
DSISD uses a "time-clock"
management system produced by Kronos. This allows computerized and
networkable information to be maintained by the district. The clocks
verify records through 'bio-prints' and employee ID badges and
information is collected in the business office for payroll.
Special
Education Manager
Dripping Springs ISD is the fiscal agent for the Hays-Blanco
Special Education Coop. The Special Education Manager program provides
centralized recordkeeping for coop staff who travel to the other
districts and aids in information management for the member districts.
Megamation
The Megamation program allows staff to enter workorders for maintenance
and for staff at the service center to schedule and document the work
needed.
Guidelines for Technology Donations
Dripping
Springs ISD is grateful for the advancements made possible by donations
of technology equipment to the district. We have been the recipients of
numerous donations by individuals, organizations, governmentat agencies
and others. In recent years, we have become very aware of additonal
costs that may be incurred by the district in accepting technology
equipment and in the disposal of inoperable machines. We are able to
place operating systems on machines appropriately now, but we do not
have resources to process machines that are not in working condition or
that need significant work to place them in service.
Therefore, we maintain the following guidelines in accepting donations
to DSISD.
Equipment must be in working condition, including monitors.
Please contact Technology Services at (512) 858-4311 if you have any
questions or possible donations. We will generate a letter documenting
your donation, adding the equipment to the inventory.
