Invitation+Letter

12/19/08

To: LBUSD Staff, Community Members, and Selected Students,

Re: LBUSD Technology Plan

The numerous technological advances throughout the past 3 years have prompted the Board of Education to take action and approve a Strategic Goal specifically focused on the development of the next iteration of our District’s Technology Plan. The District has identified a steering committee to guide the formation of the Plan’s major functional areas, and has contracted with Dr. Wagner to leverage his diverse experience in Tech Plan creations, both at a District and County level.

As the chair for this committee, it is my pleasure to provide you with some information on the structure, desired outcomes, and opportunities for participation in this process. The following district goals will guide our work on the plan:


 * Goal #1:** State and County required multi-year plan will be completed


 * Goal #2:** In-house vision statement will be completed defining phased targets for each site in terms of technology acquisition and staff development


 * Goal #3:** Budget plans will be completed in line with the overall master plan


 * Goal #4:** Site tech support will be identified in terms of structure for this task

These goals are ambitious, but remain very attainable. The steering committee has outlined a structure and process to encourage participation from all stakeholder groups: Board Members, Administrators, Teachers, Students, and Community Members. Listed below are each of the sub-committee options, and a brief narrative on the functional outcomes of the group’s work.

//Sub-committee: Curriculum// The curriculum subcommittee will develop clear goals and a specific implementation plan for using technology to improve teaching and learning. Specific goals will also address student acquisition of technology skills, ethical use of the Internet, and online safety. Other goals include equitable access, technology for recordkeeping & assessment, and technology to make teachers & administrators more accessible to parents. This section is the heart of the technology plan and will be completed first.

//Sub-committee: Professional Development// Based on the Curriculum component objectives, the professional development subcommittee will develop clear goals and an implementation plan for providing the necessary professional development to teachers, administrators, and other district personnel. Specific goals will address the types and frequency of professional development opportunities that will be offered, strategies the district will use to encourage participation, and how design elements for high-quality professional development will be incorporated.

//Sub-committee: Infrastructure// The infrastructure subcommittee will determine the hardware, software and technical support needed for implementation of the Curriculum and Professional Development objectives. This will include consideration of the necessary physical plant modifications, networking and telecommunications infrastructure, and electronic learning resources needed at each site.

//Sub-committee: Funding and Budget// The funding and budget subcommittee will develop annual budgets for the term of the plan (five years). Existing funding sources will be identified and remaining needs will be addressed. This section will also include a plan for the dealing with obsolete equipment.

//Sub-committee: Monitoring and Evaluation// Each section of the plan includes benchmarks for monitoring and evaluating progress on that specific section. This section then includes benchmarks for monitoring and evaluating the plan //as a whole//. This monitoring and evaluating subcommittee will develop a process for evaluating the impact the plan has on teaching learning, as well as how evaluation results will be shared with stakeholders and used to affect future changes in the plan.

In an effort to encourage participation, and allow for already busy schedules, a majority of each sub-committee’s work will be done asynchronously by working together on guiding questions, goals, and benchmarks using Google’s free online collaboration tools. Each sub-committee’s work will culminate in a face-to-face meeting to discuss, review, and finalize the work on that chapter of the Tech Plan. This process will continue until all five sub-committees have completed their section. The meeting dates are listed below:

Thu Feb 5, 2009, 3:30pm to 5:30pm - Curriculum Subcommittee Thu Mar 19, 2009, 3:30pm to 5:30pm - Professional Development Subcommittee Thu Apr 23, 2009, 3:30pm to 5:30pm - Infrastructure Subcommittee Thu May 21, 2009, 3:30pm to 5:30pm - Funding and Budget Subcommittee Thu Jun 11, 2009, 3:30pm to 5:30pm - Monitoring and Evaluation Subcommittee
 * Thu Jan 29, 2009, 3:30pm to 5:30pm - All Committee Members: First Meeting**

The Steering Committee will review and assemble the work of each sub-committee, and prepare a first draft review forum for all LBUSD staff members (early next school year). Additionally, a separate forum will be held for review by Laguna Beach community members. Following these two forums, a final draft will be assembled and submitted to the County Office for review before submission to the state.

I would like to invite you to participate in any of the sub-committees identified above. By having a diverse and representative group working together on each of our functional areas, I am sure we will not only achieve our identified goals, but also make a distinct and measurable impact upon the learning and teaching environment for years to come.

If you would like to participate, please let me know through email (vguthrie@lbusd.org), and plan on attending our kick-off meeting on Thursday, January 29th, from 3:30 to 5:30pm in the LBUSD Board Room.

Sincerely,

Victor Guthrie, Director of Instructional Technology and Information Services

CC: Robert Fraisse Nancy Hubbell Norma Shelton Don Austin Joanne Culverhouse Ron LaMotte Chris Duddy