District Technology Plan

     The Beaumont Independent School District Technology Plan has been developed to cover the usage of technology for the district for the next three years.  The goals and objectives are very closely bound to the district's mission statement which is set by the Board of Trustees.  This technology plan is designed for the infrastructure to be flexible to change with the continuous introduction of new technologies. 

     The Beaumont ISD technology plan provides recommendations to the district in four key areas in direct allignment with the state Long-Range Plan for technology, 1996-2013.  These key areas are as follows:

• Teaching and Learning
• Staff Development
• Administration and Support Services
• Infrastructure for Technology

     This plan was developed and the recommendations are made in the district technology plan that will prepare students and educators for the world of learning and work in the 21st century.  The Beaumont ISD wants to continue to be committed to preparing their graduates with the necessary skills, values, and knowledge to compete successfully as productive citizens in an information-driven global society.

     Beaumont ISD has specific district technology goals which are follows:

• Incorporate technology as an integral part of education
• Provide staff development for all in the use of appropriate emerging technologies and their integration into the curriculum as a natural part of education
• Include technology-based information systems when making district or compus instructional and management decisions
• Establish the human and technical infrastructure to encourage communication and to improve access to data and educational resources

     Beaumont ISD meets regularly for district technology planning and continues to utilize the Texas STaR Chart in collecting campus data to access district technology progress in accordance with the Long-Range Plan for Technology and the No Child Left Behind.  BISD has campus technology "liasons" that meet quartly with district administrators to ensure that the Technology TEKS and professional development standards are being met.  The Director of Information Services meets daily with network administrator and technicians to ensure technology operations run smoothly.  This ensures uninterrupted district and campus connectivity in network communications.

     The Director of Performance Management and Instructional Technology along with other district administrators is responsible for coordinating the technology professional development opportunities.  There is a substantial portion of the technology budget that is allocated for educator preparation and development budget.  Administrators, Educators, and all district personnel are provided with inservice time to ensure that the staff is kept up to date in learning about new technologies.  District training sesssions are made available during yearly inservice time.  The infrastructure such as telecommunication services, hardware, software and services are evaluated regularly by the Director of Information Services to maintain the most up to date technology services to ensure student learning. 

     The Texas Library standards have been implemented with the district and training in the use of the centralized, web-based library system is an ongoing intiative.  The Director of Information Services meets regularly with district personnel to monitor and ensure that progress is being made toward the specified goals and responds quickly to any developments or opportunities that may arise concerning technology.

    I feel that through these district goals and the technology-rich curriculum that BISD is promoting the use and application of technology for teachers and students and the district is coordinating its efforts to ensure the neccessary growth and development of technology.