A:  For details of the new computer purchases, click here

A:  District 87 Technology worked with the Principals of each building to determine the number and location of machines in each building.  Check with your building administration for more information. 

A map of these locations and changes is now available here.  (Please note that locations have been determined  for BHS and BJHS,  but the maps are not yet complete - we expect these to be posted shortly).

A:  Yes.

A:  Yes.  All the new computers have CD and DVD drives.  They also have the ability to create CDs and DVDs.

A:  No.  The new computers do come with USB ports.  District 87 Technology is trying to encourage the use of USB and network drives to transfer data.  Every staff member  will receive a  USB drive that can be used to transfer files.  This USB drive is the size of a thumb and holds many times more data than a floppy disk.

A:  We will continue to conduct one-for-one replacements for machines in labs, media centers, classrooms and office spaces. 

A:   Please DO NOT move machines from a room. 

Elementary staff may arrange their computers how it best works WITHIN  a classroom.

BJ and BHS staff may also move their computers to another network drop location in their room, but not all of the drops are "hot" or active. Please contact Technology via the helpdesk to make the new location hot.

A:  Please consider the following before leaving for the summer:

• Please make sure you remove any CDs, DVDs or floppies from computer drives.
• Turn off all computers and monitors and do not cover them.
• Please make sure that you have all of your documents stored to your H: drive.  This includes documents that you have on your desktop. 
• If you are at an Elementary building and you want to save your Favorites on your State Farm Unit, please visit this website. 
• The District will not be responsible for personal technology items.  It is highly recommended you remove personal technology items from your classroom.
• If you have any questions about this, please contact Technology via phone @ 828.7115 or the HelpDesk at http://helpdesk.district87.org.

A:  Replaced machines will be brought back to the Technology offices and assessed for possibility of redeployment.  Those that are not able to be redeployed will be put into a District Auction.  Those that can be redeployed will also be one-for-one replacements for even older computers throughout the District. This process continues until we have redeployed all machines possible and keep the district up to as many working machines as possible.

A:  Yes.  One mobile lab at each elementary building will be replaced with 15 Windows XP laptops.  One mobile lab at BJHS will be replaced with 15 Windows XP laptops.

A:  Yes.  As part of the addition, all new classrooms will be provided with new computers.  A new 30 station lab will also be part of the BJHS addition.

A:  Yes.  The original 28 computers in the elementary media centers will be replaced with the new computers.  The flat-panel iMac will also be replaced for the media center specialists.

A:  At least two labs will be replaced at BJHS and BHS on a one-for-one basis.  The remaining curriculum labs at BHS will be replaced with redeployed units.

A:  Projection units will be purchased.   Technology,  Maintenance and the Principals are working on a plan for distribution, installation and timelines.  This plan will be available in the Fall of 2006.

A:  A significant number of color and black/white workgroup printers will be replaced in each building.   Workgroup printers are the networked HP printers scattered throughout each building.   A map of these replacements will be made available on this site.

A:  All machines will be loaded with the standard District 87 software package, including Windows XP Professional and Office 2003.

A:  Yes.  We will continue to use the process for loading software on Windows machines that we have used since 2000.  The process is outlined in the Software Installation Services located in the Procedures section of the District 87 Technology website.

A:  District 87 Technology maintains a service called Remote Installation Service (RIS), that allows us to load software on a computer and take a snapshot (called an image), that we then save on the RIS Server.  This allows us to build like machines in labs, classrooms, etc. more quickly without having to reload each piece of software manually.

A:  Yes.  All of these software packages will be part of the elementary image.

A:  Technology will be working with Special Education to create an image for this software.

A:  There is the base image, which includes just Windows XP and the Office 2003 Applications that the district maintains licenses.  Other images include those for Special Education, Office Staff requiring Skyward PAC access, and images for labs at BJ and BHS, as well as for the elementary media centers.

A:  Yes.  As long as you comply with the Acceptable Use Policy and maintain license for the software, all staff will have permissions to load software on computers.  Should a problem occur on the computer, it will be re-imaged, which essentially returns it to the state it was originally delivered.

A:  Technology plans to make this option available to staff in the 2006-07 school year.  When complete, any staff member would be able to restart a computer and hold down a series of keys.  This will prompt the user for a login and password.  Then it will generate a list of images that can be installed on the computer.  Once the correct image is selected, the computer will rebuild itself with that image in about 15 minutes.

A:  All students have been provided with 5-digit IDs and passwords to login to machines.  The expectation is that all BJHS and BHS students will continue to use these logins.  Elementary students will also be able to login to a computer this way.

A:  A generic login will be available at each elementary building.  This login will only work on computers in the building.  We encourage all students to use their personal logins whenever possible.

A:  Students at BHS are provided with their ID and password at registration. BJHS students receive this at the building level.  Elementary buildings will be provided with a list of student IDs and passwords as well.

A:  Technology has a web-based password reset tool for students available at http://password.district87.org.  This site allows staff to enter a students 5-digit ID into the form and click reset.  It will generate a new password to the screen.  All activity on this tool is logged.

A:  Yes.  All of the keyboards on the new computers will also have ID card readers.  Technology will be piloting card access throughout the year with staff and students as an additional option.

A:  Macs will still be available throughout the District, but all of the Windows machines have comparable programs.  MovieMaker is available on all machines and works very much like iMovie.  Photostory is loaded on all machines and replaces iPhoto.  All users may also use Frontpage to post documents to their individual websites, which was not available on the Mac platform. 

Directions will be available on the self help website.  Training on these tools is within the summer Feast program and can be made available during other training opportunities (see staff development below)

A:  Windows machines do not have a launcher, but all of the applications are available from the Start menu.  If this becomes a difficult transition for students, we can create shortcuts to the desktop, but we discourage this practice whenever possible.

A:  Yes.  All of the Mac shares will be kept and you will be able to access them again.

A:  During the summer of 2006, the District purchased 72 seats for District 87 staff to A Moveable Feast , coordinated by the University of Illinois College of Education and sponsored by Microsoft Corporation.  The Feast is a week-long summer institute for professional development in technology, featuring hands-on training with Microsoft productivity software, ideas for curriculum integration, and much more! Participants receive free Microsoft software (Office Professional 2003, Frontpage 2003, etc).  This is a nationally-recognized Microsoft Model Professional Program.  The Blooming version will also include training for District 87 staff on Scholastic Reading Inventory, Scott-Foresman Science Materials, United Streaming, and a host of other applications that District 87 supports.  All training will occur on the exact machines that staff will be receiving in their buildings.

On August 18, after the New Teacher Orientation, new staff will be invited to a lab with all of the new computers.  Technology will get new staff logged in, provide an overview of all technologies avaialable, and provide time for Q&A.  A followup session with new teachers will occur during the school year.

On August 22, all District 87 staff will be invited to the auditorium at Bloomington High School to view a presentation about the new technologies available.   Teresa Hill, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Technology will meet during the summer to determine whether additional hands-on sessions may follow this presentation.

The District has also been working with Illinois State University College of Education to provide courses in technology specific to District 87.  Courses may be designed at the building level - Technology personnel are able to assist in this process.  Participants may register for the class after it is approved by ISU and given a course number.  Participants will be able to use available tuition waivers to pay for the course.  Participants may also receive non-degree credit from ISU for this course.  For more information, contact your building administrator.

The Superintendent is also working with local business resources to develop a plan for future offsite training in coordination with the Technology department.  More information on those programs will be forthcoming.

Additional training can be scheduled with Technology with groups of 5 or more.  Whether this be scheduled during common planning periods, on an institute day or after school, this training will be on a voluntary basis and will not be paid.

A: pending