Board approves PSS technology plan

The Board of Education has approved the Public School System’s educational technology plan, which aims to secure $7.4 million in funding to support the completion of the system’s network upgrades in the next three years.

The 87-page plan covers school years 2012 through 2015. It is expected to be signed today by acting governor Eloy Inos.

Based on the plan, PSS expects to complete all network upgrades by 2015. That will include an overall network restructure, activation of additional bandwidth, and replacement of current video teleconferencing equipment.

In addition, the system will also install a central wireless system at all junior and high school and will implement a longitudinal database system to improve the quality and accessibility of federal and local reporting needs.

The educational technology plan needs $2.477 million in the first year of implementation—or $7.432 million total cost for three years. PSS is eyeing federal funds for the plan.

PSS recognizes that appropriate use of educational technology contributes to student information literacy. Among its goals and objectives is to promote and support data collection systems to guide decision making and align the use of technology standards with the nationally recognized technology standards to ensure effective use of current technology in an ever-changing field and adaptability into the global arena.

“The essential goal of the PSS Technology Plan are founded on improving student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools, Head Start, and special programs,” said PSS.

Under its technology plan, the system expects 95 percent of teachers, administrators, and support staff to be proficient in the use of technology for instruction, assessment, and productivity by 2015.

Saipan Tribune learned that the plan is based on the BOE-approved CNMI Technology Program standards and benchmarks; International Society for Technology in Education; and CNMI State Board of Education instructional goals.

Last school year PSS gave all its junior and high school students netbooks under its One-Laptop-Per Child project, which were funded by a portion from the state fiscal stabilization fund and the consolidated grant for the current fiscal year.

For the new school year, the system announced that it will also provide netbooks to all incoming seventh graders.