Growing with Technology Awards

Monticello Central School District

Public Sector
Second Runner-Up

URL: www.monticelloschools.net
Location: Monticello, N.Y.
Employees: 500
Executive Sponsor: Shelley Lee Rossitto, Director of Instructional Technology
Cisco Products: Unity; 2601 phone routers; 3560 12T switches, 3560 POE switches, 3548XL switches, 3550 48 port switches, 2950 48 port switches, 6509 chassis, 2Sup boards, 16 port Ethernet blades, 48 port 10/100/1gb card, ASA, Wireless access points, 7912 and 7960 IP phones, ATA devices

Finding itself in the unenviable position of having 50% of its students not passing statewide exams, administrators at the Monticello Central School District in rural New York took radical action. It faced two conflicting facts: 50% of county residents lived at the poverty line, and would note vote to increase educational funding; yet, only a strong educational system, with a foundation in technology, would help its students break free of poverty. In response, the district's technology director applied for and won more than $750,000 in grants for the district. Now both faculty members and students have access to research, blogs, video-based educational content, and interactive simulations for math and science. Teachers have created Web sites that improve communication with parents, and use them to post homework assignments.

With an IP-based network, everyone benefits. Teachers can teach from any classroom, increasing flexibility, and access online professional development courses from school or their home. Students have access to online high school programs that increase their opportunities and accommodate diverse needs, and they can collaborate with other students around the world via videoconferencing. Special-needs students can log on from anywhere. Administrators can attend required meetings via videoconferencing systems, saving on gas and time.