Page 149 - Lakeland Catholic Technology Plan

NOTE:
Any major changes in the Wide Area Network should be taken cautiously and in consultation with Alberta Learning as the Alberta Government may be announcing a major development for the implementation of a high-speed telecommunications network infrastructure in Alberta. This network would be built over the next three years and could potentially save school districts considerable dollars.
4.1 District Wide Area Network (WAN)
There are a number of reasons to implement a Wide Area Network in a school system. These in- clude:
• enhancing school to school, and school to support services (i.e. Central office and Maintenance) communications; and
• sharing of technology, E-Mail, Internet, among others.
The first reason many school systems implement a Wide Area Network is to provide Internet to all computers. Using a WAN, a school jurisdiction can have a single connection to the Internet, con- necting all sites. This saves money in Internet connection charges, and allows a larger Internet con- nection to be purchased that can be better shared, instead of multiple little connections. Having a WAN allows staff to print to other sites, to access shared information, etc. Student Records can be linked centrally, Library automation systems can be linked together in real time, e-mail can be proc- essed immediately, and technicians can even remotely monitor many services. The following ac-
tions will provide additional improvements in the WAN.
4.1.1 Re-evaluate the Internet connectivity with respect to the firewall situation. A Firewall should be purchased, and put in place at the very minimum between the network at DSI and the school system network. By Jan. 2001
4.1.2 Install DNS server software in each of the Windows NT Servers throughout
the system. The school DNS servers should look to the District DNS Server for all lookups. By June 2001
4.1.3 Eliminate the HOSTS files from the workstations, and from their routing of technical maintenance. By June 2001
4.1.4 The issue of filtering objectionable or inappropriate content from the Internet should be seriously considered. Filtering should be done at the proxy server, or district level to avoid the frequent updates required on individual workstations. By June 2001
4.1.5 Make E-Mail the highest priority of the technical staff. Every staff member should have e-mail access from their classroom/workstation. By Oct. 2000
4.1.6 Establish and maintain a District Web Site. By Sept. 2000
4.1.7 Improve the WAN in the following areas:
• Install a fibre line from Central Office to the Notre Dame Elementary School. By Jan. 2002
• The Mackenzie River and St. Dominic Elementary Schools should be connected to the Assumption Jr/Sr High School, not DSI. By June 2002
• The connection from Bonnyville to Cold Lake should be to the Assumption Jr/Sr High School, not the DSI. By June 2002
Sub-goals and Actions
Some of the major District technology infrastructure achievements include a:
• full scale enterprise WAN, which is nearly complete;
• standard software for student records;
• standard software for Library automation;
• Local Area Networks (LANs) in every school site;
• standard file services in every site;
• standard manufacturer for all printers in all sites;
• standard manufacturer for all hubs and switches in all sites;
• satellite Internet feed;
• proxy Servers in every site;
• standard back up system for each Server;
• centralized technical support infrastructure;
• centralized technology purchasing and planning;
• Internet accessibility to all staff; and
• a District Director of Technology Services with a wide range of experience
and skill to help lead the District.
Building on the District experience, successes, and recent Alberta Learning curriculum initiatives, nine sub-goals and actions were identified to achieve Goal Four: Technology Infrastructure and Technical Support. The nine sub-goal areas are:
4.1 District Wide Area Network (WAN)
4.2 School Local Area Networks (LAN)
4.3 Individual School and Office Site Improvements
4.4 Hardware and Software Standards
4.5 Intranet Development
4.6 Information Disaster Plan
4.7 Reclaim, Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle
4.8 District Level Technical Support Responsibilities
4.9 District, School and Staff Level Technical Support Improvements
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