Technology Upgrades Continue in Huntington
Technology upgrades that filled a busy summer in the Huntington School District have continued into the opening weeks of the new school year.
The district's technology staff have been "engaged in the continued implementation of the four-year tech plan, interactive whiteboard installation and general technology maintenance" requested by teachers and administrators, said Assistant Superintendent Sam Gergis.
"We are indeed fortunate to have opened the school year with new technologies in place throughout the district," Superintendent James W. Polansky said. "Our tech staff stepped up this summer to ensure that the machines were unpacked, inventoried, installed, imaged and tested so that our students and teachers were able to take full advantage on day one. They are working on the final touches at Finley, which was not initially part of the 'year one' plan; the benefit of favorable purchase prices over the summer."
Technicians and contractors from CCSI recently finished work on a wireless project at Woodhull Intermediate School and J. Taylor Finley Middle School that was "designed to improve the wireless capabilities, strength and coverage in both buildings," Mr. Gergis said.
Eight computers for Finley's Read 180 program were installed earlier this month and are being used by students. The installation of 125 computers in Finley classrooms commenced last week and should be completed by next week.
Mr. Gergis said technology and facilities staff members installed 30 interactive SMART Boards that had been ordered for Huntington High School along with six such boards at Finley, three each at both Southdown and Woodhull schools and two at Flower Hill School. Projectors for the whiteboards were also mounted on ceilings.
"To accustom the staff with our new equipment, Rae Montesano (chairperson of science and instructional technology, 7-12) will conduct professional development relating to interactive whiteboard usage and software," Mr. Gergis said.
Some Huntington classrooms will be utilizing Apple TV this year, so district staff mounted new projectors associated with this initiative. Installation of the television units themselves is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
"We also continue to address daily technology needs, as school is underway," Mr. Gergis said. This includes iPad set-up and configuration at several schools, general maintenance, including troubleshooting printers, programs, desktops and mobile devices as requested by faculty members.
"I am particularly pleased with the manner in which our technology upgrade initiative is moving forward," Mr. Polansky said. "I'd like to thank all involved in the process."