Watertown IT Department 2023-2024 Budget Overview
The Watertown IT Department's budget for 2023-2024 is intricately tied to curriculum and instruction, reflecting the vision of a graduate as per ISTE standards. The budget allocation focuses on various IT operations, including Chromebook environments, network infrastructure, hardware/software maintenance, and innovation projects. The department's mission is to optimally support instruction and learning through data-driven decision-making and long-term planning to address evolving technology needs effectively.
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The IT Budget is NOT simply maintenance; it is closely tied to Curriculum & Instruction. It is a reflection of the Vision of a Watertown Graduate as articulated by the ISTE Standards and the decisions made to achieve both. We in the department see this as a multi-year through-line:
Links between the ISTE Standards and our Vision of a Graduate ISTE Student Standards Vision of a Graduate 1.1 Empowered Learner Curious, Think Critically, Curriculum Mastery 1.2 Digital Citizen Empathetic, Communicate Effectively, Digital Literacy, Lead Responsibly 1.3 Knowledge Constructor Persistent, Collaborate Productively, Create Bravely 1.4 Innovative Designer Reflective, Create Bravely, Digital Literacy 1.5 Computational Thinker Persistent, Think Critically, Curriculum Mastery 1.6 Creative Communicator Empathetic, Communicate Effectively, Social and Emotional Awareness 1.7 Global Collaborator Flexible, Lead Responsibly, Collaborate Productively, Global Understanding
IT Department Bucket of Operations in Support of our Vision of a Graduate as informed by the ISTE Standards IT Bucket of Operations Budget Item 1:1 Chromebook Environment Physical Devices, Vizor, JAMF, Google Console, Securly, Google Enterprise, Professional Development Network Backbone Network Hardware, Network Security, Active Directory, 10 Gigabit Network Upgrade Project IT Hardware Desktop and Mobile Computing, Classroom Equipment, Printers, Phone System IT Software PowerSchool, Formative Assessment & Diagnostic Platforms, Adobe, Google Enterprise, Microsoft 365, Learning Platforms Innovation Projects Classroom A/V Equipment, Smart Screens, Virtual Learning & Collaboration Tools, Virtual/Augmented Reality Learning Tools
The mission of the IT Department: To ensure that our IT Ecosystem best supports instruction & learning in the most efficient and fiscally responsible way possible. For this, we need two things: Data to drive long-term decision-making that answers the question: What technology investments will yield the highest results in the classroom? Multi-year planning and consistency to meet ever-changing technology needs to avoid a tidal wave of obsolescence in a single budget year
The Work Weve Done to Strategically Avoid The Cracks in the IT Department & Services Implementation of Vizor in December, 2021 for both ticketing and inventory management Chromebook inventory audits in 2021 and 2022 Facilities scheduling system Weekly CISA cyber-hygiene vulnerability scans PowerSchool Attendance Monitoring System Analysis of vizor ticketing data Consistent analysis of student data such as platform usage to drive funding decisions
Chromebooks G-Suite
Ticket distribution tells us the following The sheer volume of Chromebooks generates a high number of tickets. Chromebooks - 3600 in use/720 tickets & issues - 20% of inventory 1:1 Chromebook Environment - 48% of total tickets & issues We have an aging device population. 27% of teacher computer or lab devices need some sort of maintenance or support which indicates our desktops are simply getting old and aging out. Computers - 650 in use/175 tickets - 27% of inventory A balance between convenience and cybersecurity. - Stronger new firewall - Multi-factor authentication - Cyber hygiene testing - PD on phishing, malware and ransomware - Anti-phishing campaign CISA (DHMS) Email/Passwords - 331 tickets - 17% of total
If the GOAL is. To minimize user issues regarding technology (to maximize instruction, planning, and support time) by reducing the volume of tickets in turn increasing the effective use of technology in the district Then we must operate proactively by . Ensuring our hardware is adequate to the needs of the user Ensuring that software versions are up to date Ensuring that our network backbone can handle bandwidth Ensuring that users have adequate professional development to use the equipment and software to maximize learning Ensuring that we provide superior customer service in the resolution of issues
DRG D Students per IT Staff Member IT member : # of Students Clinton - 1 staff : 260 students Cromwell - 1 staff : 305 students Watertown - 1 staff : 650 Students
Network Usage: Watertown: 2,600 students Similar Type District (DRG D): 2,685 students Watertown Public Schools Similar Type District Watertown Max Capacity is 1GB; approaching 1GB slows network down. Other DRG D School has four times our network capacity and routinely uses 75% of capacity with nearly identical student enrollment
Total FY24 Budget Request $736,732.46 Category FY 20 FY 21 FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 (2019-2020) (2020-2021) (2021-2022) (2022-2023) (2023-2024) $736,732.46 (Requested) $356,920 $356,055 $215,868 $273,839.76 IT Budget Critical Hardware Purchases Due to Age Continued Bandwidth WHS Auditorium Chromebook Upkeep 1:1 Environment 1:1 Chromebook in one fell swoop Distance Learning Wifi Access Points (Switches, Infrastructure) Required Special Projects Cybersecurity 10 G Highway
Total FY24 Budget Request $736,732.46 Category Totals Total Hardware/Innovation $236,372.43 Total Console/Inventory Systems $33,179.80 Total Network $282,447.02 Total Software $141,733.21 Special Project: WHS Auditorium $43,000.00 Total IT Budget Recommendation $736,732.46
2023-2024 Budget Recommendations Priority #1: Creation of a three to five year District Technology Plan, beginning with ISTE Standards Integration - the road map. Year One: Establish a committee to: Develop a tool at each school for obtaining feedback from staff & students regarding technology needs Set a process for the integration of ISTE Standards into the K-12 Curriculum Year Two: Revise the K-12 Curriculum to integrate ISTE standards Determine technology required to achieve integration Year Three: Use feedback gathered by committee to adjust hardware and software purchases Continue to evaluate teaching and learning technology Formalize ISTE-based experiences in content documents Collect assessment data to monitor the impact of standards on learning
2023-2024 Budget Recommendations Priority #2: Addition of One Staff Member to the Department - not included in the $736,732.46. Rationale: 1:1 Chromebook Environment contains 3,600 devices, represents 48% of all tickets and requires additional staff. The return on this investment is: Reduce losses and control costs On-Site device support at all schools Management of device insurance & fee plans to recover losses Maximize classroom instructional time
2023-2024 Budget Recommendations Priority #3: Lab & Device Replacement Budget Items: WHS Photo, Graphic Design, and CADD Labs - 42 Mac Workstations- Multi-Year Lease-to-Purchase (total cost $142,800) 15 HP Graphics Workstations - $23,250 Polk and Judson Technology Labs - 50 HP Workstations - $32,500 Chromebook Replacement: 200 Devices at $250 each - $50,000 Other Devices Smartscreens - 10 at $2300 each - $23,000 Rationale: Three Mac Labs at WHS and the labs at Judson and Polk cannot be updated: Software Updates No Longer Supported Macs can no longer deliver the established curriculum HP Workstations at Judson and Polk obsolete; cannot be updated
2023-2024 Budget Recommendations Priority #4: 10 Gigabit Network Upgrade Phase 2 Budget Items: Service Agreement for 5 10GB network sockets: $10,500 Fiber Replacement/MDF Upgrades/Switches: $160,000 CEN service agreement upgrade - $4,523 Rationale: Elimination of network bottlenecks and unreliability Allows us to implement any foreseeable technology Allows schools to conduct grade-level or school-wide activities without performance degradation
2023-2024 Budget Requests Priority #5: Conversion of High School World Language Lab into an Interdisciplinary Student Centered Work Lab Budget Items: Smart Screen - $2500 Video Camera & Green Screen - $1500 Eight HP Workstations - $8000 Additional Adobe & other software licenses to support Rationale: Current language lab is obsolete New lab configuration would support a student-centered, performanced-based curriculum New lab configuration would integrate ISTE Standards into the World Language curriculum Provide students with authentic experiences in language acquisition such as international virtual student collaboration projects & video production
2023-2024 Budget Requests Priority #6: WHS Auditorium A/V Budget Items: Replacement of the high school auditorium sound system: $43,000 Rationale: Current system is obsolete and prone to failure. Speakers often distort sound which degrades the quality of music department and theater productions.
Total FY24 Budget Request $736,732.46 Category Totals Total Hardware/Innovation $236,372.43 Total Console/Inventory Systems $33,179.80 Total Network $282,447.02 Total Software $141,733.21 Special Project: WHS Auditorium $43,000.00 Total IT Budget Recommendation $736,732.46
