For immediate release
August 22, 2001

New technology for back to school

         Students of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board will benefit from the latest technology when they arrive for classes this September. This summer, staff from the Information Technology Services Department have been busy upgrading software, hardware, and networking components on over 4,500 computers and servers across 55 locations.
All secondary school libraries are being equipped with 15 new research computers to support the growing demand to access reference materials in electronic format, either on CD-ROMs or through an on-line Internet service. Schools currently have excellent on-line resources such as Encyclopedia Britannica, EBSCO, and Newscan. Together these provide access to a wide range of reference information, full-text journal articles and Canadian newspapers. The new computers will enhance the performance of information retrieval for students and teachers.
        Management of the traditional library hardcopy book collections will also be improved through the installation of a new cataloguing and circulation system called Spectrum. The software has superior search capabilities and will make processing new resources more efficient. As a networked system it has the added benefit of being available from anywhere in the school.
        The main focus at all elementary schools this summer has been the conversion of the school network from Novell to Windows 2000. This involved the re-building of all file servers along with the re-installation of software on some 2,700 computer workstations.
        "We are extremely pleased with the new software imaging process which allows one technologist to update over 100 computers across the network in less than two hours, " said Brian Smith, the Manager of Information Technology Services for the Board. "The new network operating system provides better support for server hardware and new opportunities for remote management as well as new software applications. Teachers will have better control over student network accounts for things like password changes, printing, and Internet access."
        In conjunction with the Plant department, renovations are underway at several schools to provide improved computer labs for student group instruction. These facilities typically include new computer benches, electrical and data cabling along with cosmetic improvements such as paint and carpeting. This is part of a three-year project to augment the existing instructional technology already available in each of our elementary classrooms.
        The Board's Internet services are being revamped to provide more responsive and secure web and e-mail services to our staff and students. We have installed new virus protection which scans all incoming and outgoing mail (the biggest source of virus attacks), along with new web filtering software which helps to provide a safer Internet environment for our students. These overheads have become an unfortunate but necessary part of providing access to many worthwhile web-based educational resources.
        This summer also saw the start of a large project to replace our existing student information systems which track everything from student attendance to course transcripts. The first phase of the project, which will be completed for September, involves a new Special Education system which will assist teachers in developing Individual Education Plans for all identified students. New Ministry requirements brought in just last year have required that we act quickly to get the new system in place. The database will provide secure and convenient access to both classroom teachers as well as central resource staff.
 

For information contact:
Brian Smith, Manager, Information Technology Services, 966-1170 ext. 2417