Educational Technology Council for Sept 2014

The School Districts’ Educational Technology Council (ETC), also known as the Technology Committee, is made up of the Technology Specialist and Technology Educators at each school, the District Instructional Technology Specialist, District Technology Specialist, District Teacher on Special Assessment, Director of Instructional Technology, Executive Director of Educational, and me, Thomas Kennedy, as the Citrus School Board Member Representative.

It goes without question that technology implementation is affecting every aspect of our schools and classrooms and this Technology Council brings together the many persons that are on the frontline of our school’s technology implementations.  Today school’s use of technology is not simply using a computer in a lab. It is digital gradebooks (Skyward), student individual technology devices (iPad), digital textbooks, ebooks, and computer base testing. I mean a LOT of computer base testing (CBT). CBT is now required by the state for ALL state assessments from 5^th grade through high school End of Course (EOC) assessments, and next year will include 4^th grade CBT.

At the meeting new hardware, applications, network and other issues are discussed and training is offered to assist these professionals. During this meeting we learned about Stoneware, a single logon solution that the district is using for teachers.  This single logon allows teachers to use just one logon and password to access nearly all of their many accounts.  This facilitates a time saving. Eventually the district hopes to have a single logon solution for students as well so that they don’t need to remember many passwords, just one.

At this time nearly all our schools have some form of one-to-one student iPad implementation. Many of our teachers have asked for an option to be able to freeze students’ iPads while they give specific instructions to them.  Through the district’s AirWatch device management system our teachers can now use an app (at no additional cost) called Air Watch Teach and Air Watch Learn to control students’ use of their iPads during instruction time to better focus instruction.

At ETC and during a recent school board meeting, Beth Bedee , Teacher On Special Assignment for Social Studies shared with us her new web site Social Studies in Citrus Schools (www.citrussocialstudies.net). This is an excellent resource for teachers looking for Social Studies, Florida and American government lessons.  In addition, Ms. Bedee did a great job of incorporating some wonderful old Citrus County photos.

Technology is one of the biggest challenges in education today and I believe it is important that we continue as a district to provide the necessary tools, professional development and staff resources to not just be effective but to be highly successful.  I am proud of the outstanding work our education and technology staff have done in the past and are doing today.  I am proud of the commitment the district and school board has made to the critical importance of these technology mandates and requirements.

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School Board Regular Meeting Recap for Sept 2014

Today’s meeting began with the opening exercise by School Board Member Patricia Deutschman.  Ms Deutschman gave a touching personal reflection of being on the board the day of the events of September 11^th, 2001.  She shared how the board has a regular board meeting schedule and the meet as required by law,  but only long enough to recess the meeting until the next day out of respect of what was taking place at that time. Ms. Deutschman told of the story of her son who was a senior that year and how that day he had senior photo retakes and that every time while taking his picture that they asked him to smile, he couldn’t because of the events occurring that day.  She then shared his senior photo of a caring and solemn young man whose face captured the emotions on our students that day.

The meeting began by Executive Director of Educational Services Mark Klauder recognizing Walter Russell Cook on attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boys Scouts of America and presenting his Eagle project of an outdoor fire place and benches in Whispering Pines Park, Inverness, Florida.

Next Crystal River Middle School Principal Gloria Bishop presented an exciting after school program through a grant partnership with the Citrus County United Way.  Citrus County United Way CEO Amy Meek was on hand to share about the program and about upcoming United Way Read-Ins at our schools.

Next the Citrus County Educational Foundation presented a new fundraising program “Coupons for Classrooms” which will begin September 12th. Pick up a copy (or ten) from your local school or by coming to the CCEF office at the Citrus County School District office at 1007 W. Main St., Inverness, FL.  This coupon book includes over $1,500 in savings from local and national merchants.  All proceeds benefit local public education.  If you or your business would like to help sell this year’s books, please contact Stephen A. Barbieri at 352-246-8352 or for additional information visit: http://www.citruseducation.org/coupons-for-classrooms-on-sale-september-12th/

Also during the meeting the school board passed the final 2014-2015 School Board “balanced” Budget totaling $211 million dollars.  Additional information can be learned by reading Citrus Chronicle Reporter Eryn Worthington article; “School board OKs budget” for Sept. 10^th, 2014 at http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/school-board-oks-budget

The School Board’s next meeting is a School Board Workshop on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

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Like it or Not here is Florida’s New State Standards

Florida is introducing new state standards this year. Reading and Language Arts standards are called LAFS (Language Arts Florida Standards). Math standards are called MAFS (Mathematics Florida Standards). Our Social Studies and Science standards are called NGSSS (Next Generation Sunshine State Standards). These are the standards that will be used to guide instruction in Elementary. Please see the links below for more information about specific grade level standards.

http://www.fldoe.org/bii/curriculum/sss/

Which assessments will Elementary take this year?

Florida Standards Assessments (FSA)
English Language Arts and Mathematics

Dates:
Assessment:
Grade Level:

March 2-13, 2015
FSA English Language Arts –Writing Component
Gr 4 – Paper

Gr 5 – Computer

March 23-April 10, 2015
FSA English/Language Arts/Mathematics
Gr 3 – Paper

Gr 4 – Paper

April 13 – May 8, 2015
FSA English/Language Arts

FSA Mathematics
Gr 5 – Computer

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) Assessments

April 13 – May 8, 2015
FCAT 2.0 Science
Gr 3 – Paper

Grade 3 students will be expected to pass the Florida Standards Assessments in the area of English Language Arts for promotion to fourth grade.

Interested in finding out more about the Florida Standards Assessment? This link will allow you to examine resources and sample assessments visit www.fsassessments.org

**Thanks to Homosassa Elementary School for the new assessment information.

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