Sandusky City Schools strives to provide the technology and support necessary to educate today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs. Through careful planning and procurement, the district has been able to update equipment in all classrooms, and by actively pursuing grants, we have been able to provide innovative programs and new technologies. In addition to the academic needs of the students, the district recognized that substantial cost savings could be achieved through technology. For example, in 2003 the district upgraded the network infrastructure. With this upgrade came a cost savings of $36,000.00 per year in connectivity charges for access to the internet. The district also deployed a new VoIP telephone system to improve safety and communication and realized over a 50 percent cost savings per year.
Basic Resources and Services
Each elementary building is equipped with a 26+ station computer lab and four networked computers in every classroom. These labs are used to supplement math and reading instruction on a daily basis. The middle school has three computer labs, the high school has four academic and nine vocational computer labs, and each 7-12th grade classroom has one internet ready workstation. Computer labs are scheduled weeks in advance for research, word processing, and multi-media presentations. Labs are equipped with projectors and scanners.
Sandusky’s fiber-optic network provides bandwidth for a multitude of services: data and voice communications, grade reporting, instructional classroom applications, office productivity tools, email, voicemail, district intra and internet web sites, file and print servers, virus protection, application servers, hardware/software inventory, IP telephones, along with transportation and food service software. We are proud of our online and phone-in Helpdesk support which in most cases provides same day in-house service. The department is also responsible for desktop management and support, as well as strategic planning of technical services, and technology purchasing.
The district provides a variety of training models to ensure that teachers are confident and competent with new equipment and software. Newly-hired teachers receive a full-day of technology training before school begins. Technology use is modeled at every grade level and department meeting. In addition, an hour or more of hands-on training is woven into full-day curricular meetings throughout the year. Special workshops are scheduled in the summer and throughout the year whenever new technologies are introduced. SMART Board training has been in great demand the recent years so sessions are offered throughout the year. In addition, outside consultants have been utilized as needed.
While the district has been able to provide a solid infrastructure, training and sufficient classroom workstations, we must rely on grants to provide new technologies and instructional programs that are beyond the basics. We would like to acknowledge the following foundations and institutions for their continued support:
Video Distance Learning -- NOECA InterCom, Wightman/Wieber Grants, Reading First
Whether it's freshmen connecting with Holocaust survivors through the Museum of Tolerance in California, eighth graders working with NASA scientists, or first graders witnessing the classic tale of The Gingerbread Boy, our students are engaged in enriching opportunities without ever leaving their classroom! Sandusky City Schools has three Polycom video systems devoted to distance learning initiatives. Through our partnership with NOECA InterCom our teachers select from hundreds of programs, each of which is matched to Ohio’s Academic Standards. Equipment is setup in the classroom on the program date and a staff member stays throughout the program to ensure there are no technical difficulties. We are grateful to NOECA, the Wightman/Wieber Foundation and Reading First for making these unique learning opportunities possible. In the near future, each elementary building will have its own Polycom System, making it possible for classrooms to be connected in real time.
CPS and Smart Response Systems -- Title IID and S/ECCF Grants
Science and Math classrooms at the middle school and high school are equipped with handheld response systems. These small devices make it possible for students to "click" in their answers to questions, giving teachers instant feedback on student learning. The computer instantly scores and graphs student results!
AlphaSmart Mobile Carts -- EETT Grants
To teach keyboarding and to provide increased opportunities to practice word processing skills, we have equipped each elementary building with two mobile carts each filled with a set of 27 AlphaSmart or NeoSmart, battery-operated word processors. The cart is also outfitted with a printer and computer and is rolled right into the classroom making technology integration easy to manage. Fourth and fifth graders use this equipment for keyboarding instruction provided by a certified keyboarding instructor and assistant. Most of this equipment was provided through four Enhancing Education Through Technology Grants (EETT) in 2005-2006.
Interactive “SMART Boards” -- S/ECCF, EETT, eTech, IDEA Grants
Research shows that the majority of students are visual learners and SMART Boards help create a visually rich learning environment that we believe will enhance student achievement. Sandusky has utilized a variety of grant sources to provide this tool in more than 200 classrooms. This year, Sandusky is proud to say that every core classroom is equipped with a SMART Board! Every Special Education classroom was equipped with a SMART Board through IDEA Funds. Every secondary math and science classroom, grades 7 through 12, was provided with equipment via the generosity of the Sandusky/Erie Country Community Foundation. Secondary social studies and language arts classrooms will be outfitted with boards in September 2008. Three SHS Social Studies classrooms were awarded an eTech Emergent Technologies Grant which provided 3 interactive boards, 3 document cameras and video distance learning programs. Forty elementary classrooms, grades 3-6, were outfitted with SMART Boards through funding provided by EETT grants. During the 2007-2008 school year every K-2 classroom was equipped through the support of the Reading First grant. SCS is most grateful for the support of these organizations for helping us provide this wonderful teaching tool.
SMART Board Lessons--Title IID
In June 2007, a team of elementary teachers began working cooperatively to create reading lessons that match the district reading series. There are now hundreds of lessons stored in a shared drive which is accessible to any teacher, from any school. In June 2009, teams of elementary teachers converted mathematics materials into Smart Notebeook filrs. Other teachers have begun sharing their instructional resources as well, which benefits all of our children!
AirLiner Graphics Tablets-- S/ECCF, EETT, IDEA Grants
All math, science, social studies and language arts classrooms, grades 7-12, are equipped with "AirLiner" graphics tablets. The AirLiner makes it possible to interact wirelessly with a SMART Board interactive whiteboard or Sympodium from 52 feet away. This makes it possible for instructors to teach from anywhere in the room. The teacher might be standing beside a student in the back of the room while writing on the board. Students can interact with information on the board from their seats! Elementary and Junior High Special Education, Barker Alternative School and Madison Elementary classrooms are also equipped with AirLiners funded through a variety of grants. The district plans to eventually equip other classrooms as additional grant funds become available.
Palm Pilots -- Reading First Grant
Every K-3 teacher is equipped with his/her own Palm Pilot PDA (personal digital assistant) which is used to assess reading skills. This hand-held device is loaded with the DIBELS reading assessment which is administered to individual students. After the assessment is complete, the instructor uploads data to a website which scores the test and groups students into instructional groups. Using this technology streamlines the Assess-Plan-Teach cycle inherent in our Reading First project.
Projectors -- EETT Grants and S/ECCF Grants
Projectors attached to classroom computers make it possible for teachers to provide whole group instruction with just one computer. Teachers can demonstrate software and show streaming digital movies, which are brief clips of educational films. Students and teachers can make classroom multi-media presentations and share web sites. Currently every single elementary classroom, along with every secondary math and science class, each computer lab and numerous other classrooms are equipped with projectors. Teachers have found that they are easy to use and are the most common way of integrating technology into instruction. EETT Grants and Title dollars provided equipment at the elementary level. The Sandusky/Erie County Community Foundation helped to equip our secondary mathematics classrooms.
Math and Reading Software -- EETT, IDEA and School Improvement Grants
Riverdeep’s “Destination Success” software, an online web application, was purchased for every K-8 school using EETT and School Improvement Grants. Now for the first time, our students in grades K-8 have access to instructional software from school, home, or even the public library, providing any-time-anywhere instruction.
Kurzweil 3000 software is provided via the network as an assistive technology for struggling readers K-12. Teachers scan in texts and supplemental materials into the Kurzweil system which then provides assistance or reads the materials to the students, as needed.
"Fastt Math" software is utilized at the elementary level to impove computation skills.
A wide variety of online resources are linked under "Resources" on our district website to provide high quality educational experiences for students at both school and home.
Document Cameras -- EETT Grant and Reading First Grant
English Language arts classroom in grades 7-12 are equipped with a flexible document camera. SMART Document Cameras were installed in every K-3 classroom beginning in January 2010. These devices connect to a mounted projector and computer making it possible to demonstrate experiments, project images and take pictures. Students also enjoy sharing their work with the class through this technology.
Information Technology Department
A four-person staff provides service, training and support to ten schools, including a career and technical program, administration and transportation buildings and the Sandusky Career Center. Additional support is provided by a crew of dedicated Tech Specialists, teachers who assume an additional responsibility by assisting with communication and training at the building level.
Brett Kluiber, Network Technology CoordinatorChris Zess, Instructional Technology Facilitator
Brad Hite, Technical Support Specialist
Brian Nickoloff, Adams Tech Specialist
Schuyler Smith, Hancock Tech Specialist
Sarah Fresch, Jackson Tech Specialist
Tammy Didion, Mills Tech Specialist
Dana Pitcher, Ontario Tech Specialist
Jeanne Scott, Osborne Tech Specialist
Justin King, SHS Tech Specialist
Kathy Willinger, SHS Tech Specialist
Judy Cutcher, Venice Tech Specialist