The Cohoes City School District’s Smart Schools Investment Plan was produced in accordance with the New York State Smart Schools Bond Act, approved by voters in November 2014. The $2 billion bond act is intended to provide school districts with funding for new educational technology and infrastructure improvements to enhance learning opportunities for all students across the state.
School districts can also choose to use Smart Schools funding to install high-tech security upgrades, to expand pre-kindergarten programs by building additional classroom space or to replace temporary classrooms with permanent instructional space.
The district’s Smart Schools funding is capped at $1,769,619.
Becoming Future-Ready
- Bright Bytes Clarity Technology Survey: Spring 2015
- Technology Committee Meetings: Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Winter 2016
- Instructional Technology Integration Specialist: Summer 2016
- Gmail Migration for Students and Staff: Summer 2016
- Going Google PD: Summer 2016 and Opening Day
- Piloted Chromebooks with Teachers: Fall 2016
- BYOD Policy: First Reading October 19, 2016
- Cohoes Google Summit: November 8, 2016
Proposed Budget & Spending Plan
- NYS allocation for the Cohoes City School District Smart Schools funding is capped at $1,769,619
- There is currently no expiration date associated with the Smart Schools funds
- SSIP budgeted expenses, once purchased shall be submitted for reimbursement through the SED Business Portal
- Our proposed major purchases are for high-tech security features (cameras and door access hardware) and classroom technology (1 to 1 Chromebook initiative, Grades 3 – 12)
- Other miscellaneous expenditures may include but are not limited to: Chromebook charging stations/carts, laptops, interactive projectors, MX800 interactive stations and Google Expedition equipment
High Tech Security Cameras
- Switching from an analog to digital camera system will give Cohoes CSD state-of the-art high resolution for facial recognition
- Upgrade of our record and playback features
- Eliminates existing blind spots district-wide
- Provides a graphic display of camera locations
- New system also supports synchronous playback of multiple cameras, making following an incident much easier
Door Access System
- Adding six locations for card access, allowing for enhanced building security
- Ability to integrate computer, phone and PA for lockdown emergency notifications
- Ability to receive text messages if a door is propped open or left unsecured
- New visitor management system, includes visitor identity badges & an alert feature identifying sex offender registrants
Chromebooks
Recommendations for staff:
- Acer Chromebook R11 738T (touch)
Recommendations for students:
- Dell Chromebook (touch)
- Rugged build
- 180-degree hinge
- Spill-resistant keyboard
- Google Support through 2021
Telepresence MX800
- Allows for integrated video collaboration
- Connects students and classrooms to others at a moment’s notice
- Allows for the sharing of content to mobile devices
- Camera tracks and follows the speaker
Google Expedition
- Field trips to virtually anywhere
- Google Expeditions kit: everything you need to take a class on virtual reality tours: a tablet, virtual reality viewers, phones and a router to connect them all
Planned Expenditures
- High Tech Security Cameras: $652,961
- Door Access Project: $198,200
- Chromebooks (Students): $421,920
- Chromebooks (Teachers): $45,385
- Charging Stations & Carts: $28,600
- MX800 Interactive Stations: $41,953
- Laptops/Carts: $145,600
- Google Expedition: $ 10,000
- Interactive Projectors: $225,000
SSIP Total Budget: $1,769,619
Timeline and Next Steps
- October 5, 2016: Technology Plan approved by Board of Education
- October 13, 2016: Met with Technology Committee to review & discuss Smart Schools Bond Investment Plan (SSBIP)
- October 19, 2016: Public Hearing on SSBIP
- October 19, 2016: Board of Education approval of SSBIP (tentative)
- October 20, 2016: SSBIP posted to the District Website for 30 Day Q&A period
- December 14, 2016: Board of Education final approval of SSBIP (resolution to purchase equipment, pending SED approval)
- January 2017: Estimated SED approval of Investment Plan
- February 2017: Purchase plan can be implemented
- June 2017: Claims for reimbursements must be submitted