Irvine Unified School District schools share a strong technology foundation. Schools are equipped with fiber connections to the District, some wireless access, maintained desktop computers, and mature data systems. However, the technology infrastructure, support, and data systems are insufficient to address the growing demand for student use of technology on our campuses.
5a. Existing Resources
Core Infrastructure
The District’s data center is located at the District Office. Each school connects to the Data Center through a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps fiber connection. Nearly all of the District’s server and storage systems are more than five years old, including critical Student Information System, Directory System, and Storage Area Network hardware. The services are often running on older versions of Microsoft SQL and other underlying systems, creating security and stability issues.
School Infrastructure
As a growing community, school infrastructure varies widely across the District based on the school’s year of construction or recent modernization. The chart below summarizes key components of schools’
technology infrastructure.
Figure 5a.1: Summary of School Infrastructure Condition
School Number of
Classrooms Year Built
Year Network -Cabled
Nbr. Of Switches
Average Age of Network Hardware
Number of Access Points*
Bandwidth
Alderwood ES 28 2005 2005 14 9 17 10 Mbps
Bonita Canyon ES 19 1977 1996 11 8 9 10 Mbps
Brywood ES 24 1988 1996 7 9 9 10 Mbps
Canyon View ES 34 2000 2000 12 9 11 10 Mbps
College Park ES 27 1974 2005 11 9 16 10 Mbps
Culverdale ES 29 1975 1996 9 9 15 10 Mbps
Deerfield ES 22 1977 2011 6 5 9 10 Mbps
Eastshore ES 20 1980 1996 6 4 8 10 Mbps
El Camino Real ES 24 1973 1996 7 7 4 10 Mbps
Greentree ES 20 1976 1996 11 9 5 10 Mbps
Meadow Park ES 26 1988 1996 9 10 11 10 Mbps
Northwood ES 23 1981 1996 8 8 8 10 Mbps
Oak Creek ES 35 2002 2002 11 8 13 10 Mbps
Santiago Hills ES 25 1979 1996 7 10 11 10 Mbps
Springbrook ES 25 1989 1996 8 10 8 10 Mbps
Stone Creek ES 19 1978 1996 8 4 9 10 Mbps
Stonegate 32 2009 2009 16 4 17 10 Mbps
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 43
School Number of
Classrooms Year Built
Year Network -Cabled
Nbr. Of Switches
Average Age of Network Hardware
Number of Access Points*
Bandwidth
Turtle Rock ES 31 1970 1996 10 10 11 10 Mbps
University Park ES
25 1968 1996 10 10 13 10 Mbps
Westpark ES 28 1990 1996 7 6 12 10 Mbps
Westwood Training Center/Interim Site
17 1981 1996 10 4 6 100 Mbps
(Shared with Sierra Vista)
Woodbury ES 35 2007 2007 15 5 13 10 Mbps
Creekside HS 28 2007 2007 17 6 10 10 Mbps
Irvine HS 77 1978 1996* 43 9 29 100 Mbps
Northwood HS 102 1999 1999 32 10 33 100 Mbps
University HS 99 1969 1996 35 10 37 100 Mbps
Woodbridge HS 93 1981 1996 30 10 33 100 Mbps
Plaza Vista ES / MS
34 1999 1999 11 8 13 100 Mbps
Vista Verde 34 2006 2006 22 7 14 100 Mbps
Jeffry Trail MS 35 2010 2012 22 1 40 100 Mbps
Lakeside MS 28 1979 1996 11 7 21 100 Mbps
Rancho San Joaquin MS
31 1972 1996 15 7 14 100 Mbps
Sierra Vista MS 39 1981 1996 20 4 15 100 Mbps
South Lake MS 25 1994 1996 11 10 13 100 Mbps
Venado MS 29 1975 1996 14 8 13 100 Mbps
Early Childhood Learn. Ctr.
29 1975 1996 7 9 8 10 Mbps
*To support dense use of mobile devices, at least one access point for every 1-2 classrooms, plus additional access points to support administrative offices and student collaboration and gathering spaces will be required (based on currently available technology).
Hardware
IUSD now hosts a wide variety of devices, including Apple and Dell desktops and laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, Kindles, and other specialized technologies. Ratios of students to computers have improved significantly since previous Technology Plan was drafted in 2009. Then, IUSD maintained one computer for every seven students. Now, the District-wide ratio is approximately one computer for every five students. Unfortunately, as the demand and procurement of devices has increased, funding for their replacement has been severely diminished. The District established a “Technology Matching Program” to encourage schools to keep technology updated. If schools spend a minimum amount to refresh technology, they receive funds from the District to augment their efforts. Because of State funding cuts, the matching program was reduced from $500,000 per year to $200,000 per year since 2009. The District-wide funding cuts have impacted schools’ ability to keep their devices current.
Approximately twenty-three percent (23%) of District computers are more than five years old. The chart
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 44 below shows the age and ratio of computers across IUSD schools. Despite average ratios remaining fairly consistent across the District, the funding cuts have exacerbated disparities related to the quality of devices at different schools.
In the 2012 Speak Up Survey, IUSD students reported that limited access to devices was a top barrier to using technology at school. Only thirty-two percent (32%) of IUSD teachers reported that they have access to student computers in their classrooms. To bridge this gap, many schools have begun piloting Bring-Your-Own-Device programs. While these programs alleviate some of the adequacy issues related to devices, they increase the strain on the infrastructure and support personnel.
Other essential classroom technologies, including printers, document cameras, and projectors are not on defined refresh cycle. The District has mounted projectors in nearly all classrooms as well as large meeting spaces. However, most of the District’s 1,400 projectors are over six years old.
Data Systems
IUSD has invested in enterprise data systems to house student data and support classroom activities.
The two primary systems for student data include the Aeries Student Information System and Schoolnet Instructional Management system. Aeries houses student demographic, enrollment, attendance, scheduling, academic, and deportment data. IUSD works closely with Eagle Software, the company that sells and supports Aeries, to make sure that the system meets its needs. Schoolnet houses assessment, curriculum, professional learning, and interventions data. In addition, Schoolnet provides a
comprehensive, longitudinal student profile. Ancillary, centrally supported systems include a library/textbook management system (Follett Destiny), a secondary counseling program (Naviance), school-to-home notification systems (SchoolMessenger), learning management systems (Blackboard, Edmodo), and an Internet content filter (LightSpeed).
In recent years, the District has used these student data systems to significantly increase efficiencies.
For example, through Aeries, IUSD has moved nearly all progress reporting and report card processes, student registration, and re-registration online. In addition, through Schoolnet, the District now has made recommended curriculum resources, common assessments and professional learning available online. The District has also used Schoolnet to automate the identification of students at-risk and assign and track progress on interventions.
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 45 Electronic Learning Resources
Educational software is fragmented across the District. Schools use a variety of reading and math software for intervention and acceleration of learning. None of these systems have been formally reviewed in IUSD to determine their impact on student learning. The variety of software packages and versions creates challenges for support and evaluation.
Support
For direct site hardware and software support, IUSD has five full-time technicians – one for every 1,800 computers. However, these staff are augmented through school site staff and temporary staffing from the Common Core implementation funds. For technical support, each school site received an allocation based on enrollment and grade level. Schools use this allocation to “buy” dedicated hours of one of the Information Technology Department technicians, and/or to pay a stipend or hourly rate to an onsite individual. The onsite support providers are referred to as LAN Admins. LAN Admins and IT technicians focus on maintaining, refreshing, and troubleshooting computers, printers, network equipment, and software. Their work is coordinated through a Help Desk ticketing system.
To support technology integration into teaching and learning, IUSD has one Education Technology Coordinator and one technical support provider. The Education Technology Coordinator leads the Technology Advisory Coaches (TAC). The TAC is a Professional Learning Community comprised of teacher-leaders with an interest and aptitude in technology integration. These TAC leaders meet monthly to share best practices, receive professional learning, and strategize to meet support and professional learning needs at their sites.
The technical support and education technology teams rely on the remaining IT Department staff to maintain administrative technology systems, student data systems, and the infrastructure that provides the foundation for school operations and instruction. In response to a 2010 Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) study, Information Technology has been restructured to improve school site support. The diagram below displays the current organization within IT.
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 46
Figure 5a.2: Information Technology Department Organization
Turn-around times for Help Desk tickets average approximately three work days. For individual
classroom issues, even if disruptive to instruction, teachers often wait a week or more for a resolution.
The LAN Admin model is increasingly problematic as the LAN Admins are often unable to provide immediate support when and where it is needed most. The centralized technicians are able to visit assigned sites for a few hours per week.
5b. Needed Resources
The District’s infrastructure, hardware, and support structures have sustained a basic level of technology integration in schools. However, the District needs to substantially increase its technology infrastructure to support the transformation of teaching and learning. Infrastructure needs to be updated and
expanded to support student computing on at least a one-to-one scale across the district. Applications need to be integrated seamlessly and fully supported as part of the school operations and curriculum.
Most importantly, support needs to be augmented so that teachers and students can be confident in the technology they choose to use.
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 47
Category Needs Why Needed
Core Infrastructure Data Center Provide a stable, reliable foundation for IUSD network and data systems. The new data center will need adequate power and cooling, as well as updated hardware to support a heavily
virtualized, resilient environment.
Wide Area Network Upgrade Bandwidth upgrades (to a minimum of 500 Mbps for elementary schools, 1 Gbps for secondary schools) and new hardware are necessary to support the expansion of the number of devices and media-rich curricular elements.
Network Security and Monitoring Management tools, including mobile device management, network access control, and bandwidth/quality of service prioritization are necessary to secure and ensure the availability of the network in a one-to-one environment.
School Infrastructure Structured Cabling Most IUSD schools’ structured cabling is out-of-date, insufficient, and, in many cases, in damaged. Replacement and augmented structured cabling will form the backbone of the schools’ wireless and wired infrastructure.
Network Switches Network switches need to be replaced to stabilize the network and facilitate higher-speed connectivity.
Wireless Access Schools need to refresh existing wireless access points and augment wireless access to support one-to-one computing.
Data Systems Replacement of Systems The District does not yet have an enterprise, supported Learning Management System solution.
Increasing need for home-school communication and blended learning opportunities has made this a critical need. The District must also replace its school-to-home notification system.
The current system is locally hosted. In the event of an emergency, the District would need a full day to reach all families by phone and email.
Upgrades and Enhancements to Current Systems
The teacher portal for Aeries, the Student Information System, has been
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 48 completely rewritten and absorbed into the web-based Aeries.net. In addition to significant system architectural changes, this upgrade requires a “re-implementation” of teachers’
gradebook, attendance, and other tools.
The District’s Instructional Management System, Schoolnet, has major changes coming on its product roadmap that will significantly impact assessment and intervention management throughout the District. IUSD will need to address integration needs to resolve areas of duplicative data entry, including assessments, interventions, staff demographic data, user accounts, and tracking progress toward graduation.
Staff and Student Devices
Display Refresh IUSD classroom projectors are generally more than six years old and failing rapidly. All classroom displays will need to be refreshed during this plan period.
Staff Devices IUSD needs to establish ongoing funding for the replacement of staff computers.
(Current funding provides for less than 20% of the annual need for staff computer replacement).
Student Devices Schools struggle to provide and keep up-to-date a base-level of student computing devices. To move toward a one-to-one environment, even under a Bring-Your-Own Device Model, IUSD will need to provide an estimated 30-40% of student devices, as well as core
computers at the site (to support specialized programs, State Testing, and emergency device replacement).
Learning Resources Educational Software The District will need to define an evaluation process for electronic learning resources that is connected to similar processes for traditional
curriculum. In addition, the District will need to establish support expectations and procedures, as well as evaluation protocols to ensure the availability and quality of learning resources.
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 49
Video To meet growing professional
development needs, and address issues with limited release time, IUSD will need to create an on-demand video library of curricular and professional development resources.
Support Technical Support Current support levels have proven
effective in maintaining our current systems. However, limited funds for proactively refreshing hardware, the rapidly increasing number and type of devices, expansion of bring-your-own-device programs, and new projects have tested the limits of existing support resources. The current, decentralized support model leads to inconsistent and delayed support at many sites. As the number and variety of devices
continues to grow, the support must be expert and immediately available to deal with technology issues. The District will work toward a centrally supported technician model. These technicians will be centrally supervised, trained, and supported. However, they will be deployed at specific sites to ensure high-quality, responsive support from someone who knows both the technical resources and the school site culture well.
Technology Coaching (Technology Integration)
Currently, TACs are provided a stipend and must limit coaching to a handful of release days or after school time. To fully implement the Technology Plan, TACs must be available for in-classroom coaching and support of technology integration. As recommended in Section 4, IUSD plans to fully support one FTE at each site.
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5c. Annual Benchmarks and Timeline for Infrastructure and Support
Year 1 Benchmarks (By June of 2014):
Infrastructure
■ Data Center: Transition network operations center and non-critical systems to new IUSD data center at the Maintenance and Operations Facility.
■ Wide Area Network: Upgrade connection to County Internet Service Provider to 10 Gbps, secondary schools to 1 Gbps, and elementary schools to 500 Mbps. Replace WAN network equipment at each site to support upgraded speeds.
■ Network Security and Stability: Implement network monitoring and protection to sustain network availability with managed and unmanaged devices on the network.
● Complete implementation of network/services scanning utilities.
● Implement Intrusion Prevention System (IPS).
● Procure and implement log-aggregation solution for improved diagnostic ability.
● Review and select solutions for mobile device management and network access control.
Classroom/School Technology
■ Upgrade and or replace any Windows desktop and laptop systems not meeting Common Core or Windows 7 minimum standards.
■ Augment the computer matching program with one-time Common Core funds to support upgrading labs in anticipation of statewide online testing.
■ Update 50% of classroom projectors with high-quality LCD projectors and/or displays.
■ Convene software steering committee to begin process for consolidating instructional software licenses and migrating to web-based software when possible.
■ Assess testing environments in anticipation of State online testing (pilot in 2014, full implementation in 2015).
Data Systems
■ Complete migration of current critical data systems to upgraded SQL server cluster.
■ Implement new or upgraded school-to-home notification system.
■ Complete Internet Filter replacement with solution that supports differentiated and granular filtering.
■ Fully integrate Aeries and Schoolnet interventions and assessment data.
■ Pilot implementation of Aeries.net teacher portal.
■ Initiate Business Systems Automation projects, beginning with substitute assignment and payroll processes.
■ Pilot custom district data warehouse and decision engine tool (internal SharePoint environment).
■ Conduct selection process for a district-wide learning management system (online classroom portal).
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 51 Support
■ Increase centralized technical support by at least 1 FTE to support new schools and pilot transitions away from the LAN Admin model.
■ Restructure TAC program consistent with goals outlined in the professional learning section of this plan.
■ Implement support plan and communications for Apple products and non-standard devices.
■ Analyze data from Help Desk system to inform workload balancing and service levels throughout the District.
Year 2 Benchmarks (By June of 2015):
Infrastructure
■ Data Center:
● Complete migration of all production systems to Data Center at Maintenance and Operations.
■ Network Security and Stability:
● Implement Quality of Service and network monitoring to prioritize and preserve traffic in anticipation of one-to-one computing.
● Implement mobile device management and/or network access control for school-wide Bring-Your-Own-Device, and grade-level one-to-one pilot programs.
● Through Facilities Advisory Committee, update standards and conduct site assessments to determine electrical and space/staging needs to support one-to-one computing and digital curriculum.
● Upgrade 100% of local area network hardware connected to school labs that will be used for online State testing.
● Conduct site walks and complete comprehensive scope of work for
structured cabling refresh and electrical upgrades for Phase 1 (High Schools) and Phase 2 schools (Middle Schools, K-8 Schools).
● Complete comprehensive Local Area Network upgrades, including wireless to support one-to-one computing at Phase 1 schools.
Classroom/School Technology
■ Augment matching program to support a computer refresh cycle of 20% per year, preserving a minimum of 1 computer to every 5 students ratio.
■ Replace remaining 50% of classroom projectors with high-quality LCD projectors and/or displays.
■ Verify all schools have lab environments that will effectively support State online assessments.
Data Systems
■ Implement District-supported Learning Management System.
■ Complete transition to Aeries.net for teacher-entered grades and attendance.
■ Fully integrate directory services with student and staff databases.
■ Pilot implementation of Aeries.net teacher portal.
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■ Implement video distribution technology for blended and online learning, professional learning, and exemplar practices videos.
■ Expand custom District data warehouse based on pilot feedback and make available to all IUSD leadership team members.
■ Catalogue and standardize supported Education Technology software.
■ Business Process Automation:
● Implement online time reporting for all employees.
● Integrate IUSD Human Resources and OCDE Payroll System.
● Develop requirements for replacement/redefinition of online stipend and employee status change forms.
Support
■ Transition 30% of schools to dedicated/allocated technician support model.
■ Require 100% of sites use the Help Desk system to access IT support.
■ Continuously evaluate IT support structures based on Help Desk data and school site feedback.
Year 3 Benchmarks (By June of 2016):
Infrastructure
■ Data Center:
● Establish development/failover data center at the District Office.
● Develop strategies for delivering virtual services and/or a virtual student desktop in a Bring-Your-Own-Device model.
■ Network Security and Stability:
● Conduct site walks and complete comprehensive scope of work for
structured cabling refresh and electrical upgrades for Phase 3 and 4 schools (Elementary Schools).
● Complete comprehensive Local Area Network upgrades, including wireless to support one-to-one computing at Phase 2-3 schools. (Phase 4 LAN Upgrades planned for 2016-17 school year).
● Develop and conduct bid to replace IUSD telecommunications system, with comprehensive Voice Over IP solution. Plan replacement of IUSD
Telecommunications System with Voice Over IP solution. (Implementation planned for 2016-17 school year).
Classroom/School Technology
■ Restructure and augment computer matching program to provide proactive refresh of teacher/classroom technology and a per-student allocation that provides flexible solutions to build toward a one-to-one, bring-your-own-device environment. (Phased in over three years – Full Implementation planned for 2017-18).
■ Centralize purchase of highest-rated (by software committee and IUSD teachers) online software and instructional programs.
■ Evaluate classroom sound amplification solutions. Develop standards for classroom sound and develop timelines for implementation.
IUSD Technology Plan 2013-2016 Page 53 Data Systems
■ Continue to expand implementation of District-supported Learning Management
■ Continue to expand implementation of District-supported Learning Management