School leaders from around the country gathered in Baltimore, Maryland for the SchoolCIO Summit, where they shared their solutions and challenges related to digital equity in K-12 schools. Here are highlights from their conversations.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS KEEPING UP WITH THE BANDWIDTH REQUIREMENTS RESULTING FROM BEING A FAST-GROWTH DISTRICT AND SUPPORTING BYOD DEVICES. WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PASSING BONDS TO BUILD OUT OUR DISTRICT-WIDE INFRASTRUCTURE BUT THE ONGOING SERVICE FEES AND MAINTENANCE HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
DIANNE BORRESON, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, HAYS CISD, KYLE, TX
WE PARTNERED WITH OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, LOCAL LIBRARIES, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH WIFI ACCESS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF LOCATIONS AWAY FROM SCHOOL.
Clockwise from top left: SAFARI Montage CEO Andrew Schlessinger, Veronica Creech from EveryoneOn, the Friday morning panel with Matt Kaye (Science Leadership Academy), Dallas Dance (Baltimore County Public Schools), Scott Harris (Neosho, MO School District)< & Dennis Carpenter (HICKMAN MILLS C-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT); Opening panel with Creech, Katrina Stevens (DOE0, Lauren Wilson (FCC), Rei Onishi (HUD), and Marijke Visser (ALA); in white: Jayne James (CoSN). CASEY WARDYNSKI, FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, HUNTSVILLE CITY SCHOOLS, HUNTSVILLE, AL
WE’VE VISITED COUNTLESS DISTRICTS TO SEE HOW THEY ARE APPROACHING THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL FACE. I LEAVE SOME DISTRICTS CHALLENGED TO DO BETTER AND OTHERS ENCOURAGED THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SHELBY WOMACK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY & DIGITAL LEARNING, STEPHENVILLE ISD, STEPHENVILLE, TX
MY STUDENTS HAVE MORE GRIT THAN MANY. IF WE DO THE WORK, THERE WILL BE DISCOMFORT IN CONFRONTING A SYSTEM WHERE THE STANDARDS HAVE NOT CHANGED, BUT SOME STUDENTS HAVE GREATER ACCESS. DO YOU ALLOW A SYSTEM TO CONTINUE UNCHALLENGED OR DO YOU TAKE IT ON?
DENNIS CARPENTER, SUPERINTENDENT, HICKMAN MILLS C-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT, KANSAS CITY, MO
“WE CAN BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY GETTING OUT OF OUR SILOS AND WORKING TOGETHER…WE CAN HELP SCHOOLS BUY DEVICES COUPLED WITH WAYS TO BE CREATIVE WITH FUNDS THAT ARE THERE BUT SCHOOLS DON’T KNOW HOW TO WEAVE TOGETHER.”
VERONICA CREECH, CHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER FOR EVERYONEON, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT WORKING TO ELIMINATE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
FROM A LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE, WE’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR SKILLS ALIGN WITH K-12 DISTRICTS. SO IF YOUR KIDS ARE LEARNING STEM SKILLS, WHAT ARE THEY DOING AT 3:00? CAN LIBRARIANS BE TRAINED TO HELP TEACH AND BUILD ON SKILLS THAT KIDS ARE LEARNING ABOUT IN SCHOOL, IN AN AFTER SCHOOL SETTING?
MARIJKE VISSER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION’S OFFICE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY
WE HAVE KAJEET (LIMITED) HOTSPOTS AVAILABLE FOR CHECKOUT, WE REALLY TRY TO INFORM PARENTS ABOUT ALWAYSON.ORG AND CONNECT2COMPETE, LOCAL FREE WIFI AVAILABILITY, ETC.WE ARE ALSO EXPLORING DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES FOR WIFI ON BUSES.
SCOTT HARRIS, TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR, NEOSHO SCHOOL DISTRICT, NEOSHO, MO
