November 2001 — Features

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Lessons Learned: An Inside Look at Four of the Top Technology School Districts in the Nation

By Dr. Philip J. Bossert

The district serves 2,150 students who live within 77 square miles in Central Pennsylvania. In 1994, Central Columbia began a comprehensive strategic planning process. A subcommittee within the strategic planning team looked specifically at the technology curriculum area within Central Columbia to determine its direction. Harry Mathias, superintendent at Central Columbia, says: "We felt if we didn't have a plan in place to put technology in the hands of students, we would be aimless."

Federal grants helped the district purchase equipment to provide distance learning opportunities. Both the middle and high schools have Picture-Tel equipment and TV studios, and each classroom is equipped with drops necessary for full-video conferencing. A wide area network connects Central Columbia with Susque-Net, a consortium of school districts, Bloomsburg University and the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit. Through Susque-Net, named for the Susquehanna River Valley where Central Columbia is located, the district can provide fringe courses, such as Latin II, Japanese and upper-level mathematics.

"Students connect to the world through distance learning," Mathias says. Seven Tech Prep programs, including Communications Technologies and Management Information Systems, link curriculum paths of 11th- and 12th-grade students at Central Columbia with post-secondary institutions, such as the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. "Our curriculum is linked with their curriculum for seamless integration - all the way to grade 14," says Mathias. And advisory committees meet regularly with members of the business community to find out what they will require of the future workforce, linking our students to where the jobs are, he says.

Another key to Central Columbia's success is an elaborate staff development program. "In order for your technology to work within your district, you must have very good staff development," Mathias says, pointing out that development opportunities are for all staff and not restricted to professional development. Each year, Central Columbia spends about $25,000 in staff development for 265 staff members, including 143 teachers. After-school mini courses are available, and every teacher in the district has their own Individual Education Program for technology training. There's a computer in all of the district's classrooms, and every student has Internet access. When the district got serious about its technology program, they put in a solid backbone - the best that it could at the time and far better than what was necessary, says Mathias. "Now that wireless technologies are really starting to have an effect, we are able to grow," he says.

 

Anaconda School District - Anaconda, Mont.

Anaconda School District is located in a small community, nestled in the valley of the Rocky Mountains in Montana. In 1980, about 2,700 students were enrolled in Anaconda Public Schools compared to the 1,500 students today. "We saw technology as being critical to the future of our students," says Kim Buryanek, principal, Anaconda Senior High School. "The school board made a commitment to technology, even though our students probably won't stay here because there's just not a lot of employment opportunities."