Hearing tomorrow on technology plan for Chesterfield schools

The Chesterfield County School Board will hold public hearings tomorrow night on the proposed $13 million technology plan and major revisions to the board's policy manual.

The current technology plan was about laying the infrastructure and getting computers into schools, said Lynda Gillespie, director of technology, while the 2009-14 plan focuses on expanding technology access to students and teachers and making technology part of the daily instruction.

Meanwhile, Richmond's school system is finalizing its five-year technology plan, which would update infrastructure, give richer access to Internet educational resources. The system would spend about $4.5 million over five years.

Hanover County's school system is halfway through its six-year, $17 million plan, which serves the instructional technology needs of the system and focuses on supporting technology to enhance teaching and learning. Blogs, wikis and podcasting have been integrated into the curriculum.

In Henrico County, all high school and middle school students have laptops. The high school contract was renewed for another four years last year. The middle school contract ends in June, and the school system is gathering input. Elementary schools have five computers in each classroom.

All teachers and administrative staff have laptops. The system plans to spend about $40 million in technology in the next five years.

The Chesterfield proposal, which will be revised every year, would include netbooks, which are smaller and cheaper versions of laptop computers, for all teachers and administrators. Wireless access would be installed in school buildings, and more touch-screen computers and hand-held devices would be added in schools.

"The plan really focuses on ensuring that students are equipped for whatever role they play in the 21st century," Gillespie said.

Chesterfield is developing a central Web-based portal for students and staff to have round-the-clock access to school data, which would depend on their role in the school system, she said.

Other goals include providing the same technology services in all buildings and at the same level, as well as holding educators more accountable for using equipment, taking leadership roles in technology and keeping up with the changing technology, Gillespie said. Training and professional development would be required for all teachers.

Teachers would also be required to integrate technology in the classroom. The newly revised curriculum has technology embedded in it.

The $13 million funding for the plan would come from the schools' capital-improvement plan and grants. At this point, it is hard to predict how the budget shortfall forecast would affect the plan. If funding becomes an issue, implementation of some of the goals may be have to be extended, said Marshall W. Trammell Jr., School Board chairman.

The board will also hold a public hearing on major revisions to its policy manual. Phi Delta Kappa's 2008 curriculum management audit recommended the changes to policies that lacked clarity, guidance and consistency.

"Our policies are so far outdated that they needed to be revised," Trammell said.

The board is expected to vote on both proposals during its Dec. 8 meeting.

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or .