Pub. 2 2012-2013 Issue 2

17 for your technology after construction has started. You might not be putting in the right outlets, or you might not plan for the server room. By the time we come in, we are doing change orders for different outlets, AC units for the server room, and so on. If we come in on day one, we can work with the designer and other groups to help you through the whole process. Jacob Johnson: When I first started working with charter schools, I remember one where the teach- er’s phone was by the door, the VGA runs were in the opposite corner for their projectors, the teacher’s desk was up front, and cables were strung all the way around the room. But since then, we’ve been having boards start looking at it up front, even in the charter phase, and we’re spending money a lot more effectively and those dollars are going a lot farther because we’re not spending it on change orders. Or more importantly, we’re not learning to live with less than we deserve. What are common pitfalls to avoid when putting together a technology plan? Matt Densley: Some schools want the Cadillac of systems but the budget won’t fit it, or they don’t have a realistic idea of what the core of the network needs to be to sustain all that. Come up with the worst case scenario. You have in mind what you want, but come up with the minimum that you can put in and still get the functionality you are trying to accomplish, combined with the philosophies of the school. Then create a game plan over a period of time. The infrastructure’s already there, so you can add all the extra pieces to get to where you really want to be 3-5 years down the road. Aaron Metcalfe: I’ve seen a lot of schools get wrapped up on space or materials that don’t add to the teaching environment. They might make it look better, but it’s really not about that; it’s about the effective use of the finite funds that they have. They might be able to afford the technology, like iPads, if they were to manage their budgets just a little more effectively and be more engaged. Matt Densley: One of the common pit falls we see is that a lot of schools have one company come in and pull the wire, they have another that comes in and gives them the printers, they have another come in and install their security cameras, and so on. One of the things we’ve tried to do is bundle these things together, so if we’re pulling a wire for the students’ data, we’re pulling for the teacher and the intercom at the same time. That is saving the schools so much money because it’s one contractor and one cost they are dealing with. Galen Manning: Tour other schools and make a short list of what’s working, and what isn’t working. Also, be open to the idea that some of the technology you install will require an ongoing investment. If you are going to make a commitment to be a technology centered school, or technology driven school, you need to also make the financial commitment to do that. What should schools consider when it comes to security or firewalls? Matt Densley: Decide if your school is going to use a BYOD (bring your own device) method, and put personal devices on the network. Whether or not that’s the case, we have to figure out where we are putting the security, in the school, or on the device, or a mix of both. We found that if we can put it in the core of the network and then be able to segregate it based on who is accessing the content then teachers can get to stuff that students don’t necessarily need to access. You’re creating an environment where everybody has access to what they need. Jacob Johnson: There are a lot of great solutions out there that meet the requirements for complying with CIPA (the Child Internet Protection Act). The state just signed a contract with a company called iBoss, which clusters, configures and secures devices, and quickly makes them compliant with CIPA. Dave McBride: Use a device such as iBoss or Barracuda. I’ve seen schools that try to assume liability and use software to try to run their own filter, and it’s just not worth the liability for that school. What are some options that charter schools have for funding? Dave McBride: There are five ways to get money for schools. Self-financing, E-Rate, the construction budget, private money or a private loan, and grants. What is E-Rate? Matt Densley: E-Rate is a reimbursement fund that was set aside by the U.S. government to allow schools and libraries to build their infrastructure technology, which is anything inside of the schools as part of the infrastructure. It’s the core of the network, continued on page 20 I’ve seen a lot of schools get wrapped up on space or materials that don’t add to the teaching environment. They might make it look better, but it’s really not about that; it’s about the effective use of the finite funds that they have.