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Two new 30-station mobile computer labs are among the proposals included in Sibley East’s 2008-2011 Technology Plan.

The plan was approved by the Board of Education February 26.

Cathy Wills, Sibley East’s technology coordinator, explained that the state is moving to all on-line testing in 2009-2010. In two years, the Sibley East School District will need another lab in each building.

The new labs, labeled “testing labs” in the plan, are projected to cost $40,000 each. One is budgeted for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the second is budgeted in fiscal year 2008-2009. The proposal includes 30 computers with laser printer, software, and projector for instructional purposes.

In addition to the two new computer labs, the existing four computer labs, two in each building, will be replaced. The new labs will have 30 computers. It is budgeted to replace one existing lab annually, with the projected cost of $30,000 each year.

Over a four year period, one new computer will be placed in each classroom for student use and for teacher demonstrations of software. $15,000 is budgeted annually for the project.

The budget includes $6,500 annually to replace file servers and $1,750 annually to replace network printers.

Sibley East’s Technology Plan includes $4,000 – $5,000 annually for computer software for computer labs and classroom computers, and site licenses for software.

$10,000 is budgeted annually for repairs, and $9,500 is budgeted annually for supplies.

Funding for administrative computing, such as payroll, finance, and the student system support is included in the plan. The cost is estimated to be $27,454-$30,299. $15,000 is budgeted annually for the networked building, including data cable, conduit, voice cabling, connecting all classrooms and offices for telephone and computer communication.

Sibley East has budgeted $52,386 annually for Internet access. $5,000 is budgeted annually to replace computers for the special education department.

During the four year period, Sibley East is projecting to spend $179,020 – $217,990 for the technology equipment, repairs, supplies, and software. Four staff salaries, in addition to the equipment costs, are budgeted at $77,148.

Wills explained that the technology plan is required in order for Sibley East to apply for grants. The plan must include a needs assessment, goals, policies and procedures, implementation, evaluation, and a budget.

80% of students use technology on a daily basis, Wills said. Sibley East has a student to computer ratio of 5 to 1. During the period of the last plan, the ratio was 6.5 to 1, she said.