Curriculum-driven technology is integrated into diverse learning environments to enable learners to responsibly access, analyze, create, develop and share knowledge. Proactive planning ensures that instructional technology, information systems, and telecommunications are relevant and continually advance educational, operational, and stakeholder engagement excellence.

Elmhurst 205 employees, for technology information and tips visit the Technology intranet site! (Click here to access the staff intranet)

The 2012-2013 technology deployment includes the following:

Computer Refresh. The K-5 student laptops issued in 2008 are replaced with new laptops. The new laptops are smaller and less expensive than student laptop models previously deployed, which allows the District to increase access to computers without increasing cost. With the new laptops, the K-5 laptop-to-student ratio improves from 4.8-to-1 to 3.4-to-1.  Half of the student desktops in the York Learning Commons will be replaced with laptops, plus additional laptops are being provided to increase student access to technology in the York Learning Commons by 50 percent. Other staff and student computers throughout the District are replaced due to the age of the equipment.

Classroom Technology. The Technology collaborated with the Curriculum and Instruction department to identify priorities for new classroom technology deployment in 2012-13.  The following initiatives are underway and funded by the technology budget:

• Deployment of SMART interactive whiteboards ("Smartboards") to all 1st grade classrooms with professional development for 1st grade teachers. Installation will proceed throughout the Fall and into Winter break.
• NOVA 5000 science probes for middle school science classes. One classroom set of probes and a charging/storage cart is issued to each middle school.
• A pilot of 1:1 computing technology at York High School. The pilot provides iPads or Google Chromebooks to every student in up to two class sections at a time. A total of five class sections are slated to pilot 1:1 in the first two trimesters. The class sections are selected by York and District administration from proposals submitted by teachers. The pilot results will help the District evaluate instructonal practices, District policy and procedures, and infrastructure readiness related to 1:1.

Additionally, technology from donations and grants will be scheduled for deployment/installation as the technology arrives.

Desktop Virtualization. In the summer of 2012 a desktop virtualization server, disc storage, and software infrastructure was established. Desktop virtualization manages and stores many logical desktops on a single physical server. One form of desktop virtualization, known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), allows users to use a physical desktop computer, a "thin client" device, or a mobile device to interact with the logical desktop running on the server. This approach allows the District to extend the life of desktops beyond their traditional refresh date. When the desktops eventually need to be replaced, less expensive thin client devices can be deployed in their place. Thin clients are small, easy to maintain because they have no moving parts, and they consume very little power. During the 2012-13 school year approximately 300 - 400 total desktops at York High School will be virtualized in phases.

York TV Replacement. The remaining analog TVs at York High School are replaced with digital TVs as the final step of a multi-year plan to replace the analog TV system at York. Approximately two-thirds of the old TVs were replaced by LCD projectors during the past three summers, and the remaining TVs were replaced in 2012. The old analog system was retired because it is obsolete, it is no longer supported by the vendor, and repair parts are no longer available.

Illinois school districts submit a Technology Integration Plan (TIP) to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) every three years. District 205’s 2012-2015 TIP was submitted on February 28, 2012 and ISBE approved the plan on April 10, 2012. The TIP outlines technology-related strategies, activities and expenditures for instruction, professional development, and technology deployment. The TIP was developed with input from stakeholder groups including the district’s Curricular Technology Committee (with representatives from each of our schools), the York Technology Committee, and through a variety of means including staff surveys, teacher focus group discussions, and other modes of informal communication and feedback.