District outlines multi-year technology roadmap; middle school display and network upgrades planned this summer
Loading...
Summary
Minnetonka—s technology director presented a multiyear plan that emphasizes visible, mobile, flexible and collaborative classroom technology. The board heard summer-phase work on middle-school displays, Wi-Fi and phones; the board separately authorized financing to support the infrastructure rebuild.
Amanda Fay, executive director of technology, briefed the board on the district—s strategic technology plan and a multiyear implementation roadmap timed to summer construction and curriculum cycles.
Fay said the plan is driven by four priorities: visibility (bright, reliable classroom displays), mobility (tools to support teacher and student work inside and outside class), flexibility (physical and digital adaptability) and collaboration. She described stakeholder feedback that highlighted large bright displays, student digital collaboration and classroom mobility as the most requested features.
Planned near-term work includes removing desktops and upgrading displays at middle schools this summer, sunsetting older smart-board technology at middle schools, districtwide network and Wi-Fi upgrades, and a new phone/help-desk system. Fay described staged follow-on work for high school and elementary displays in subsequent summers; the elementary work will be coordinated with ongoing elementary curriculum reviews to avoid disruptive timing.
Fay noted the technology projects are funded from the capital technology levy approved by voters and that the district will honor the voter promise to use those funds for the stated capital work. Finance staff separately presented and the board authorized an authorizing resolution for up to $2.2 million in notes to fund the infrastructure rebuild; that authorization was recorded as a separate vote.
Board members asked about training and support. Fay said the district maintains instructional technology coaches, an extensive course of resources in the learning management system for staff, optional professional learning sessions (recorded and offered virtually) and calendar-based booking links for one-on-one tech coach support. She said training and phased transitions are part of the plan to provide "no summer surprises" for teachers returning in the fall.
Superintendent David Law thanked Fay and highlighted the district—s commitment to providing a predictable multi-year plan for teachers and the community.
