Electronic Comment Filing System

ECFS Filing Proceeding: 10-222
Name of Filer: St Jude School
Author: Tony Russell
View Filing:
St Jude EDU2011 Proposal (10)
Type of Filing: COMMENT
Exparte Presentation: NO
Date Received: 12/8/10
Date Posted: 12/9/10 11:29 AM
File Number: 1
Address: 3030 N Amidon Wichita, KS 67204

St. Jude School, Wichita, KS December 8, 2010 Proposal for E-RATE DEPLOYED UBIQUITOUSLY (EDU) 2011 PILOT PROGRAM Page 2 of 10 I. EDU2011 FUNDING REQUEST SUMMARY ............................................................................. 3 II. QUICK FACTS: ST. JUDE & CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WICHITA, KS .................................... 4 III. PROGRAM DETAILS ................................................................................................................ 5 IV. EVALUATION ............................................................................................................................ 7 V. TIMETABLE ................................................................................................................................ 7 VI. BUDGET .................................................................................................................................... 7 VII. APPENDIXES ............................................................................................................................. 8 A. ST JUDE TECHNOLOGY GOALS ............................................................................................ 8 B. RECOMMENDED INTERNET FILTERING SOFTWARE ............................................................. 9 C. RECOMMENDED 3G WIRELESS DATA SERVICE .................................................................. 9 D. SAMPLE LAPTOP CONFIGURATION ................................................................................... 10 Page 3 of 10 I. EDU2011 Funding Request Summary St Jude is a private K-8 elementary school serving a diverse population in Wichita, KS that includes students of all income levels, ethnic backgrounds and ability levels. St Jude School will improve the educational opportunities for students by making mobile computing and wireless broadband access available to the 13 percent of school families that do not have computers and Internet access in their homes. If awarded EDU2011 pilot program funding in the amount of $8,640 (annual total) for wireless data services, the St Jude community is prepared to fund the estimated equipment and filtering software costs of $10,170 as well as anticipated annual support costs of $1,700. Operational budget and/or donations from outside sources will fund St Jude?s anticipated expenses. Page 4 of 10 II. Quick Facts: St. Jude & Catholic Diocese of Wichita, KS Entity Name: ST JUDE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Entity Number: 77561 Accreditation: State of Kansas Address: 3030 N Amidon, Wichita, KS 67204 Phone: 316- 838-0800 2010 K-8 Enrollment: 214 Total Families Served: 138 AYP 2009-2010 report: Math - Standard of Excellence Reading - Standard of Excellence Science- Standard of Excellence 34% students eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under the national school lunch program 38% minority enrollment Ethnicity breakdown: Caucasian- 62% Hispanic=31% Asian = 4% African American = 2% Asian=2% Native American= 1% St Jude is one of 38 private schools in the Catholic Diocese of Wichita school system. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita school system has 11,000 students making it the ninth largest school system in the state of Kansas. As far as we know, the Diocese of Wichita is the only diocese in the United States where every child of active parish stewards can attend Catholic grade and high school without paying tuition. Page 5 of 10 III. Program Details In 2008, parents, students, teachers and other select members of the St Jude Community were surveyed to discover what program, resource and facility improvements could be made to advance educational effectiveness. One of the most significant findings was that 13% of parent respondents only had access to internet connectivity at work or not at all. This percentage equates to an estimated 18 St Jude families (138 x 13% = 18). Appendix A lists all technology goals established in 2009 in response to the survey results. EDU2011 funding will specifically address one goal (highlighted in yellow) as well as benefiting several other goals. Attempting to increase the number of St. Jude Catholic School student households with high-speed internet access and appropriate computer equipment is paramount. EDU2011 support for St Jude?s off-premise connectivity will support St Jude?s teaching efforts. According to an article published by the US Department of Education (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/reports/e- learning.html) the latest research and evaluation studies demonstrate that school improvement programs that employ technology for teaching and learning yield positive results for students and teachers. Additionally, Goal 1 of the National Strategy for Technology in Education states that all students and teachers will have access to information technology in their classrooms, schools, communities and homes. St Jude?s plan is simple: put equipment and mobile (i.e. cellular wireless) internet access in the hands of our educators to distribute to students that do not have computers and/or Internet access in their homes. We envision a check-out system similar to library resources. To reduce technical compatibility issues and ensure CIPA compliance, mobile kits will be put together that include a laptop computer, filtering software, wireless USB device and laptop case. These kits will be checked out to students similar to library resource materials. A pilot program of one mobile kit is already in place with equipment and services described in Appendix B, C and D. Recognizing that computer and application coaching is critical for the success of any technology program; St Jude has periodically scheduled hardware and software training programs for students, teachers and parents. Page 6 of 10 Acceptable use of wireless Internet services will remain the same as on premise services. St Jude?s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is available on the home page found at www.stjudewichita.org. St Jude?s goals and objectives, along with the EDU2011 funding program, dovetail with Connect: Kansas, which is a division of Connected Nation. Connected Nation believes that states, communities, families and individuals can realize great economic and social advantages when we accelerate broadband availability in underserved areas and increase broadband use in all areas, rural and urban, alike. Many states have also adopted ?No Child Left Offline? initiatives. These are innovative projects that bring together public and private partners to help disadvantaged children and their families join the Information Age. EDU2011 funding for St Jude?s proposal would help underprivileged individuals overcome the obstacles associated with the digital divide. Page 7 of 10 IV. Evaluation The efficiency and effectiveness of the wireless mobile access program will be reviewed and evaluated by the St Jude leadership on an annual basis. Performance metrics: ? Survey of participating teachers, parents and students ? Standardized testing scores V. Timetable Phase Description of Work Timeframe Pilot Test and measure trial 12/01/10 ? 06/30/11 Implementation Execute proposal for fall 2011 class starts 07/01/11 ? 08/15/11 Evaluate program and apply improvements Annually VI. Budget Phase Description Equipment & Software Costs Wireless Data Service & Maintenance Costs Pilot Equipment & Services for one trial mobile broadband kit $0 - Spare $480/yr Implementation Equipment & Services for 17 mobile broadband kits $10,170 $8,160/yr Maintenance Estimate (15% of one-time costs) n/a $1,700/yr Total $10,170 $ 10,340/yr St Jude?s EDU2011 Funding request amount - $8,640 Page 8 of 10 VII. Appendixes A. St Jude Technology Goals Goals Status Goal: Support St. Jude strategic planning committee goals with technology solutions. In process Goal: Attempt to increase the number of St. Jude Catholic School student households with high-speed internet access and appropriate computer equipment. This goal is based on a survey of parents indicating that 13% of respondents only had access to internet connectivity at work or not at all. Pending Goal: Provide basic computer skills training to members of the St. Jude Catholic School community. In process Goal: Strive to achieve a 1:1 computer to student ratio for grades five through eight at St, Jude Catholic School. This goal is based on student, alumni, teacher and parent survey responses placing an emphasis on the need to update technology. Pending Goal: Replace laptops in the science lab. This goal is based on student, alumni, teacher and parent survey responses placing an emphasis on the need to update technology. Completed 07/09 Goal: Continue to add and enhance internet and server based educational programs. This goal is based on alumni survey question 2 and parent?s survey question 2: both indicated a need for more up-to-date methods and tools. In process Goal: Poll the teachers on a yearly basis about technology wanted or needed that would benefit the students or support teaching. Annual Goal: Provide Promethean Board in computer lab. This goal is based on student, alumni, teacher and parent survey responses placing an emphasis on the need to update technology. Completed 01/10 Goal: Replace CRT monitors in the lab with flat screens. This goal is based on student, alumni, teacher and parent survey responses placing an emphasis on the need to update technology. Additional factors: power consumption, heat and desktop space. Completed 07/09 Goal: Hire a permanent full-time IT manager. Pending Page 9 of 10 B. Recommended Internet Filtering Software C. Recommended 3G Wireless Data Service One-time equipment charge - $80 Unlimited data plan - $40/mo Month-to-month contract terms Educational rate of $1.25 per month per machine Page 10 of 10 D. Sample Laptop Configuration Estimated price: $550 per machine