Beaumont ISD, Joy Schwartz

Develop strategies for funding and management

Review the required reading documents - the Funding, and Management resources; then provide the input for your institution as the following required topic.

Discussion STEP 6: (Submit a minimum of 3 sentences for each question. References are required. Due by 3/19.)

1.  Develop strategies for funding.

Beaumont ISD applies for an E-rate grant for technology funding each year.  This is a great way for school districts to provide technology and services to their schools and students.  This grant was created by the FCC to provide schools and libraries affordable access to advanced telecommunication services.  Discounts ranging from 20% to 90% are awarded to districts for telecommunication services, internet access, internal connections and basic maintenance of internal connections. (TPESC, 2012)

In addition to this particular grant, the district has teams and grant writers who are continually seeking other avenues for technology money.

Each campus will allocate a percentage of their budget for the purchase and maintenance of technology equipment and services, as well as provide training for teachers and staff.  This will vary from campus to campus depending on the number of students as well as the number of teachers and staff.  

The district has a contract in which they lease computers and replace them every four years.  In addition to this contract, a more defined relationship between BISD and Lamar University should be established.  The district already is allowed to select, free of charge, any furniture or equipment the university is discarding.  This partnership however could be stronger and broader.  

2.  Develop strategies for management plans.

Beaumont ISD utilizes several different pieces of software for management within the district.  One piece, Prologic Technology Systems’ Total Education Administrative Management Solution (TEAMS), is used by all departments within the district and by parents as well.  This provides a hub for students grades, attendance, as well as teachers and staff contracts and substitute system.  Human resources as well as the business departments use this web-based software on a daily basis.  (Prologic, 2012)

Eduphoria is another software package used within the district.  It used by teachers to track or monitor test scores of students (standardized and local tests).  Administrators use the software for reporting feedback from walk throughs as well as processing and reporting PDAS components for teachers.  Plans within our district are currently being put into place to utilize Eduphoria for even more purposes (such as transferring 504 student data from school year to school year, registering for professional development opportunities, and writing lesson plans).  (Eduphoria, 2012)

CSCOPE is a third management software package Beaumont ISD uses.  CSCOPE is a comprehensive, customizable, user-friendly curriculum management system built on the most current research-based practices in the field. (CSCOPE, 2012) The district just implemented this web-based curriculum this school year.  The use of this software is two-fold for the district.  One use is to better prepare students for a more rigorous test such as the STAAR tests or EOC exams.  A second use to better unify all curriculum within the district and ensure the same material is being taught and tested on comparable levels and campuses.  

3.  Describe the required procedures for the proposed strategies.

For the district to continue to receive the e-rate grant each year the district must reapply.  Within their application the school district must submit a technology plan for the district and this must be approved by TEA.  The plan must clear and realistic strategies for using telecommunication and information technology to improve the educational process, as well as including professional development strategies.  A current assessment of all services, hardware and software must be included as well.  The district must also submit a financial plan to show a sufficient budget for acquiring and supporting non-discounted elements of the plan, and an evaluation process to monitor progress. (TPESC, 2012)

For the other grants, the district grant writing team will seek out and follow TEA’s guidelines.  Each grant has different requirements and different components.  Some possible grants available are: American Reinvestment and Recovery Act,Carl D. Perkins, No Child Left Behind, School Improvement Program,  Statewide Longitudinal Data System LEA Grant, Title VI, Part B, Subpart 2 – Rural Low Income School Program, Life Skills Parenting Program, Optional Extended Year Program, Prekindergarten Early Start (PKES) Tier 2, Year 2, Special Education, Student Clubs Grant, Cycle 2, and Student Success Initiative Program  (SSI). (TEA, 2012)

Each campus within the Beaumont ISD has a CEIC committee comprised of teachers, administrators, parents, and community members.  This committee needs to work closely with the principal to make sure the budget allows for purchasing and maintaining technology, and the training of teachers to better implement technology within the classroom.  Teachers need to communicate to their committee members as well as their principals any technology needs they foresee on the campus.  

To strengthen the partnership with Lamar University, more research needs to be conducted so to discover the components of the current relationship.  Also, the district needs to research existing relationships between other universities and colleges and school districts.  By conducting this research a model or proposal can be developed to share with Lamar.  Also, by researching existing partnerships, the district can provide supporting data (if it exists) to show improvement in the educational process within local public schools and universities.  

References:

CSCOPE.  (2012).  Retrieved on March 19, 2012 from http://www.cscope.us/.

Eduphoria! (2012).  School Objects.  Retrieved on March 19, 2012 from http://www.eduphoria.net/default.aspx.

Prologic Technology Systems, Inc. (2012). TEAMS.  Retrieved on March 19, 2012, from http://www.ptsteams.com/.

TEA Grant Resources. 2012. Retrieved on March 19, 2012 from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147487920&menu_id=951.

TPESC. (2012). E-rate. Retrieved on March 19, 2012, from: http://tpesc.esc12.net/erate/default.html.