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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 Technology Review Committee Charter 2004-09-14-TRC-charter.pdf Charter for the 2004 Technology Review Committee 1 . Introduction This charter was approved by a vote of the Lexington School Committee on June 15, 2004. It was revised pursuant to the Superintendent's recommendation at the August 10, 2004 School Committee meeting. This revision was approved by the School Committee on September 14, 2004. The Technology Review Committee will comprehensively review the deployment and use of computer technology in the Lexington Public Schools. The findings of the Review Committee will be preparation for an updated four-year technology plan to be implemented starting June 2005,when the current four-year plan expires. The focus of the new plan will be to support the best practices for teaching and learning as well as the state technology guidelines developed by the Massachusetts Department of Education. (See, for example, http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/tplanguide04 07.html). The Review Committee will seek input from interested parties in the municipal and school administrations, in the school staff, on the governing boards (Selectmen and School Committee), and from selected citizens. The Review Committee is organized as a subcommittee of the Lexington School Committee and will report to that body. Its recommendations may refer to other inquiries carried out by the Superintendent of Schools and the Town Manager. 2. Scope of the Review Committee The Review Committee will refrain from broadening its scope and will be mindful that the school system already has an extensive computer infrastructure in place. Any recommendations on restructuring or reorganization of the program will be stated as advice for the incoming IT director. The Review Committee will work toward recommendations on computing in the Lexington Public Schools that reflect the interests and values of the community and the expertise of professional educators and technologists. In addition to other inquiries it may deem appropriate, the Review Committee will specifically address the following questions: (a) Will Lexington Public Schools be national leaders, for the next five years, in pedagogical use of computer technology, and will the schools use computing effectively to prepare students for work in Massachusetts? (b) If not, how should our educational practices and policies change? (c) Are the Lexington Public Schools buying and using the most appropriate technology (hardware and software) in light of the state of the art in 2004, computing trends in 2004-2009 likely to impinge on the system and its students, and the constraints of town budgets? (d) If not,what changes in technology and purchasing should the school system consider? (e) How is technology curriculum development and support staffing best organized within the school system? The Review Committee may also consider the proper relationship between the school system's computer infrastructure and the infrastructure of the library,the town offices, and other municipal departments. The scope of this inquiry might include: 1. Inventory the current technology staffing resources that exist in the municipal and school organizations. 2. Define the current and probable near-term best practices for staffing levels and organization in the following areas of information technology: a. Network administration b. Technical support c. Website applications d. Training 3. Design governance process for joint municipal/school IT decision making. 3. Participation in the Review Committee The Review Committee will consist of Tom Diaz as Chair and Olga Guttag as Vice-Chair, assisted by approximately ten people: (a) One citizen volunteer with expertise in public education, preferably with expertise in pedagogical use of computers. (b) Three additional citizen volunteers with expertise in use of computers in business and in academic institutions. (c) Six staff members appointed by the Superintendent, representing experienced personnel with a range of views. The Review Committee will also seek liaisons with the Capital Expenditures Committee and the Town Manager's office. 4. Review Committee Reports At regular intervals, the Review Committee will make brief reports on its progress to the School Committee, including such preliminary findings and points of community consensus as may be appropriate. The Review Committee will keep the Superintendent apprised of any activities using school time and resources and will interview school personnel only with the Superintendent's permission. The Review Committee will make a final report in draft form available for public comment at least thirty days before its formal presentation to the School Committee. Pertinent parts of public comments on the draft final report may be included in the final report. 5. Operation and Budget of the Review Committee As a subcommittee of the Lexington School Committee, the Review Committee must conduct its work according to the state Open Meeting law, and committee members will be briefed on the subject. The Chair and Vice-Chair will be responsible for the management of the review. The Chair or, in his absence, the Vice-Chair, will have the authority to call meetings, set agendas, and direct the work. The Committee will work on the basis of consensus, taking votes only as needed, at the discretion of the Chair. The study committee members will serve without compensation and will endeavor to make only necessary and minimal use of school resources. 6. Access to School Employees and Systems Subject to advance notice to and permission of the Superintendent, the Review Committee (or its designee)will be afforded full access to the school system's computing facilities and to school employees. When on school property,the Review Committee members will conduct themselves according to LPS policies and according to rules established from time to time by the Superintendent. 7. Timetable The timetable assumes adoption of this revised charter by the School Committee on or before October 1, 2004. The Review Committee will present a preliminary report at a School Committee meeting on or before October 1, 2004, including the Committee's views on the schedule and process which it thinks are necessary to accomplish its mission. We desire a preliminary report with budget input for FY06, by December 1, 2004. A more complete report with input for the state plan would be desirable by April 1, 2005.