PISD OKs faster Internet

By MARY RAINWATER

As a means to keep their students on top of modern technology, Palestine Independent School District trustees approved a proposal for the installation of a Wide Area Network Monday.

PISD’s Director of Technology David Long first proposed the new Wide Area Network — a faster data system that the district’s current T1 lines — to trustees in July of 2007.

“A WAN will handle a lot more data, allow faster Internet access and a larger phone system that the district currently has,” Long said. “It will connect the campuses into one server located at the administration offices.”

PISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Wallis reported that a WAN would also be beneficial in preparing to district for online services that will soon be required, such as online TAKS testing.

“The Texas Education Agency is moving that direction with the TAKS testing,” Wallis said. “And we would be behind the times without a WAN system.”

Wallis also mentioned that teachers were currently using their personal cell phones in contacting parents and students through the campus advisory programs.

“I has assumed that each classroom did have their own phone lines,” he said. “And their cell phone use certainly shows the teachers’ dedication to our students.

“But having their own lines would be beneficial for that program, as well as to increase safety in the classrooms — especially in those classrooms located in modular buildings.”

Long reported that he had applied for e-rate funds to help defray costs of the system, and stated that the WAN system would cost the district about $2,000 a month once the system is in place.

“It will cost about $900 more that the district’s current monthly telephone and T1 charges,” Long said. “We are looking at having the network installed by September.”

Trustees unanimously approved Long’s proposal, and OK’d the purchase of a network switch at a cost of $30,000 — which came from a grant from the Region VII Education Service Center.

Also during Monday’s meeting, trustees adopted a resolution regarding the district’s expenditure targets.

According to PISD Director of Business Services Megan Lawson, laws require that all expenditure targets — the percentage of funding spent directly on students – must be 65 percent of a school district’s budget.

If a district does not meet that requirement, a resolution stating that and the reason for it – must be adopted by the board and kept on file.

Lawson reported that, except in the area of student support services — library, staff development, health transportation and food services — the district did meet that 65 percent requirement.

“The district had decided to direct those resources to student support services in the form of hiring counselors, etc.,” Lawson said. “And the resolution states that.”

In other business, the board:

• HEARD the AEIS Report, which included information on the district accountability ratings, dropout rates, completion rates, college readiness, and more.

According to PISD Director of Secondary Curriculum Carolyn Martin, two district campuses — Palestine High School and Story Elementary School — had been named Gold Medal Performers for comparable improvement in the areas of math and reading, respectively.

Academic indicators were also positive, with some campuses needing improvement in just one or two areas to advance to its the next level of the accountability rating scale this year.

• APPROVED consent items (including minutes, bills paid, financial and investment reports, budget amendments, summer feeding and donations).

• APPROVED the cheerleader/mascot constitution and Kik-Kats constitution.

• HEARD a Southside Primary School report by principal Nikki Calhoun.

• APPROVED the board procedures manual.

• APPROVED campus plans.

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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com