On May 6, the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District School Committee unanimously approved the 2015-2018 District Technology Plan. The plan will go to the state Department of Education for approval.
The MEA testing has been a major challenge for technology infrastructure, as the tests are taken by the entire school system on computers. Director of Technology Michael Richards said that with the limited number of computers in each school, it would have taken nearly a month for all of Wells Elementary School to complete the test.
However, through a sharing agreement, they distributed computer resources between schools, and were able to complete the testing in two weeks.
In 2011, the district had 225 computers for 476 students in the elementary school, while at Wells Junior High School, they had more computers than enrolled students.
“We really tried to focus on ”¦ what’s best for kids going through this (MEA) process,” Richards said.
A major component of the new technology plan was to support professional development of staff with new technology. Richards said he has gotten all of the staff onto Google+, a social networking site run by Google, which allows him to easily communicate with teachers when they aren’t in school and send out emails related to technology matters.
Another major challenge for Richards going forward will be to upgrade the technology in the high school as the $26 million renovation of the facility moves forward. He said this means buying all new copiers and printers, as well as new computers.
Richards said the Education Technology department hopes to have this all completed by Jan. 2, 2016, when students return from winter break.
The school committee also reaffirmed the Education Technology’s current policies, including computer use and Internet safety, as annually required by the state Department of Education.
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