Background:
"Access" is San Francisco Unified School District's (SFUSD) operative word in dealing with technology implementation. In a metropolitan area with a 65,000 student population, SFUSD wanted to "increase student learning and achieve academic excellence," as well as provide an efficient administrative tool for the district's staff through the use of state-of-the-art technology. "Where people have access to appropriate tools, they can learn and work efficiently, making the best use of time, energy, resources, and money" (SFUSD's Technology Plan, p. 4).
In 1981, Superintendent Alioto established a task force to develop a computer master plan covering the instructional and office uses of computers and the necessary training. Due to budgetary constraints, the district did not start a technology pilot until 1983; the pilot targeted six schools. In 1987 the new superintendent, Ramon Cortines, revised the master plan, focusing on the need to better integrate computers into the curriculum. In 1992 SFUSD's current superintendent, Waldemar Rojas, raised the need for a formalized strategic plan for the district which builds upon the district's previous computer master plan. From the new strategic plan came the Technology Master Plan 1993, which "makes recommendations pertaining to the use of all forms of technology for instruction and management districtwide" (p. iii).
Technical Solution
Currently, the existing centralized mainframe environment prohibits the district from pursuing its goal of expansion to reach all students and personnel within SFUSD. Thus, SFUSD is turning to a decentralized networking environment as a cost-effective solution.
The 1993 Technology Master Plan outlines an automated networking environment, eventually phasing out the existing mainframe within the next three years. In general, the decentralized, networking environment establishes local area networks in each school site which connect to the district office, using 56K lines and/or ISDN lines. The district office connects to the Bay Area Regional Research Network (BARRNet), using a T-1 connection, enabling access to the Internet. This network configuration allows connectivity to every school. In addition, it enables SFUSD to access the diverse services the Internet provides.
Funding
The estimated cost for full implementation of the district's entire technology plan is $66 million dollars over a five-year period. SFUSD plans to rechannel funds from other sources to support implementation of the plan. In addition, a county sales tax passed on June 16, 1993 allocated a quarter cent of every dollar to go to San Francisco schools; these additional funds will in part be used to fund the master plan. The district will seek other funding efforts in the future as needed.
Training and Support
In recognition of the dramatic ongoing changes in the technology arena, the district is committed to retraining existing staff so that they will be prepared to support the new decentralized project. Although staff attend formal classes, most of the training is conducted through on-site and "learn-as-you-go" situations. A central help desk located in the district office is available for technical assistance. It is SFUSD's goal to encourage each school site to develop its own technical support person or group.
Within the next 12 months (by July 1994), 39 key sites (elementary schools) will be connected to the district office. Other schools will be included when they are ready, based on their financial and technological status. SFUSD is planning to completely switch from mainframe to client/server wide area network in three years.
Eric Boutwell
Manager, Applications Development
415-241-6169
eboutwe@sfusd.k12.ca.us
