Davis-Thomas Elementary-Middle School

Local School Improvement Committee (LSIC)

Ad-Hoc Committee

Final Report -- February 28, 2008

1. Final Progress Report

Phase/Activity	Status	Expected Completion
Research and planning for computer upgrade	Done
Construction, re-wiring, new tables and computers installed	Done
Survey teachers	Done
Compile survey results, feed back to school community, share with LSIC and PTO	Done
Ad hoc group puts together proposal for teacher training and purchase of computer peripherals and/or software	Done
Teacher training held February 16	Done
Additional teacher training held	Scheduled	3/10/09
Parent night held February 3rd	Done
Evaluation--survey teachers and students regarding their use of the lab	Planned for March	3/15/09
Collect information to use in the next phase of expanding technology use at DTEMS	Planned for March	3/12/09

2. Key Questions

How has the grant made a difference in the quality of services or their effectiveness?

· The teachers attended a training in the lab on Odyssey. The training taught them to take this software from a classroom-type use (all students starting at the same lesson) to individual-based use, with modules programmed for students based on their WestTest outcomes.

· The students really like the lab, with its new computers, vibrant paint, and new desks and chairs; they are motivated to go into the lab and work.

· The Intelliboard (“white board”) has increased the effectiveness of the lab by broadening the teaching methods that can be used there.

· More parents know how to access Edline, the school site that shows grades and assignments.

What impact did the grant have on the population served?

· The grant served the teachers—the impact it had on them was to make the use of technology much more feasible (prior to this the lab was not fully functional). It is now less time-consuming and easier to use.

· The students are using the lab for research projects on a regular basis. For instance, the reading teacher is collaborating with the 4^th grade teacher on a technology research project that results in the students creating power point presentations.

· Students from 3^rd and 4^th grade are using the lab regularly, which is new. In fact, the survey the committee conducted was with 5-8^th grade teachers because the lower grades rarely used the lab previously. This is a positive outcome.

During the course of the project, did anything happen that was different from what you expected?

· The committee had very strong support from the county schools; the Technology Coordinator committed significant resources to leverage the grant and was supportive of this collaborative effort of LSIC, PTO and teachers at the school.

· It took much longer to complete the project than anticipated, because the county has very limited capacity in the way of tech-help and maintenance/facility staff. An outside contractor had to be engaged to do something as simple as hanging a white board, and he was slow to respond because of other demands on his time.

How will the lessons you learned change your future thinking, performance or services?

· To quote the school principal: “Many hands make light work”—this project was accomplished with the help and commitment of county staff, school staff, parents and community members. It is a good model to carry forward to new improvement projects.

· The project helped foster new momentum and energy about new possibilities at the school by completing a project that helped the school community feel that it could make a difference.

· The research conducted at the very beginning of the project was extremely valuable—the committee moved forward with a thorough understanding of what was needed and what it would cost to complete.

· Now that the computer lab is working so well, it is in high demand and the mobile lab (laptops on carts) is also being used more often. This lab may have to be upgraded to continue to meet all the technology needs of the school.

3. Financial Report

Project Budget Revenue

Source	Amount	Actual	Difference
	$13,242.00	$12,385	(857)
LSIC/DTEMS	2820.00	1,278.00	(1,542)
PTO	2750.00	2,400.00	(350)
Tucker County Schools	2672.00	3,807.00	1,135
Community Connects Foundation	5000.00	5,000.00

Project Expenses

Expense	Amount	Actual	Difference
	$13,242.00	12,385	(857)
Construction & Furnishings & Paint	$4,800.00	4,316.00	(484)
Computer stations 6 planned	$2,400.00	2,490.00	90
GPS receivers	$1,872.00	1,872.00	0
Re-wire lab	$1,420.00	1,518.00	98
Intelliboard (white board)	$1,800.00	2,189.00	389
Professional Development (teacher volunteer)	750	0	(750)
Parent Night (teacher and parent volunteers)	200	0	(200)

4. News Release Format

The “news release” format will be provided at the celebration, so that it can include a report on the second teacher training and the evaluation work as part of the content.