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and that we strategically plan for future needs. In both schools, we are proposing to
increase the number of devices. Because teachers have more access, and with the support
of principals, digital learning specialists, IT support and the Director of Educational
Technology, technology integration has become a regular part of daily classroom
instruction, teaching and learning. Technology is now viewed and utilized as a regular
utility that must work effectively and reliably, as a result, it is a regular investment that
needs to be maintained on a consistent basis in order to ensure the smooth operation of
our increasingly technology-based learning in the schools.

Internet Connectivity: Our current Wi-Fi network is at a 100mbps duplex fiber optic
(steady state guaranteed) connection, which has been adequate for our schools’ needs.
Teachers and students have reported little to no connectivity problems, and utilization of
our digital devices continues to increase as the reliability of our fleet of devices, technical
support, and network infrastructure has improved.

Google Suite: The Boxford Public Schools and all schools across Tri-Town Union have
shifted our email and calendar to Google Applications for Education (GAFE). We are in
the process of shifting our storage of files to Google Drive, which is a cloud-based
storage solution. Our email, calendars and files are stored in boxfordschools.org
accounts, directly to Google servers. GAFE is free for schools, with unlimited storage,
for educators and students alike. It can be accessed wherever there is Internet access and
on any device: computer, tablet, or smartphone. As a district, we are using GAFE to
collaborate, communicate and teach students digital citizenship, as we prepare them for a
global society in which interconnectedness is part of everyday life as citizens and
employees. GAFE continues to provide efficiencies for staff and students alike, and has
provided the ability for students to track their work and start developing an electronic
portfolio of work.

Communication: Our external and internal communication systems are not keeping up
with the level of technology our schools are using and the sophistication with which we
are teaching students and facilitating learning. Internally, we have a very outdated
Student Information System (SIS). Currently, the tool we are using is static, and provides
very rudimentary and basic student information (e.g. student addresses, state ID numbers)
to one administrative assistant in each building. Our needs as a district and as a school
union have outgrown our current tool. Our current SIS collects very limited data and does
not provide reports and data which would assist administrative assistants, principals,
teachers and the Central Office with efficiencies in collecting data about student progress.
The current SIS that are used across Massachusetts allow schools to track student
biographical information, provide secure reports to administrative assistants, principals,
teachers, and the Central Office, communicate effectively with parents/guardians, provide
state data to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,
track student interventions, create standards-based report cards, and integrate school-
based communication via email. As a way to track student data, the vast majority of
Massachusetts districts are using updated SIS tools, and the Boxford Public Schools and
Tri-Town Union are unable to effectively manage our data and communication without
an updated SIS. We are preparing to write an RFP (request for proposals) to seek an
updated, effective SIS for Boxford Public Schools and Tri-Town Union. Further in the
future, we will assess our external communication tools (e.g. website, applications, social

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