1. Vision
2. Goals
3. Governance
4. Assessment of Local Situation 
5. Strategies and Timeline 
6. Standardization of Hardware and Software
7. Budget 
8. Professional Development Strategy 
9. Acceptable Use Policies
10. Evaluation and Revision Process 

I. VISION STATEMENT

II. GOALS

1. Enrich the quality of learning and teaching, and increase overall academic student performance; 
2. Use information technology as a communication tool to network with others within the school, in the local community, and expanding out to the global community at large; 
3. Create an environment/climate of continuous use of interactive information technology; 
4. Integrate information technology throughout the Cathedral curriculum; 
5. Encourage and support new initiatives and innovation as a dynamic, continuing process; 
6. Instruct on the moral and ethical use of information technology;
7. Cultivate literacy in information technology for all students of Cathedral High School as outlined in the Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning proposed by the ALA’s publication, Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (Chicago: American Library Association, 1998) ; and 
8. Obtain necessary financial means to develop information technology.

1. Use information technology to create imaginative and innovative solutions to problems; 
2. Use information technology as a tool for learning; 
3. Use internet connection to access and to interact with world-wide information; 
4. Develop ethical values with regard the use of information technology; 
5. Learn to appreciate the value of information technology; 
6. Develop and increase critical thinking skills through the use of information technology; 
7. Generate opportunities for independent, self directed use of information technology; 
8. Develop competencies in the use of information technology for communication, information research and problem solving.

1. Promote the effective use of information technology to improve student performance; 
2. Use information technology to motivate the students to learn; 
3. Be given the opportunity and support to develop, maintain and broaden skills in the effective application of information technology; 
4. Develop, maintain, and ensure maximum use of information technology; 
5. Provide an efficient and enriched technological environment; 
6. Offer a variety of learning styles: self directed learning, collaborative and cooperative projects, real world problem solving, communication and presentation skills; 
7. Be able to use information technology to support their personal and professional productivity through administrative applications and communication with colleagues and students via e-mail; 
8. Gain competencies in e-mail, inter/intranet, resource access and use, and information management; and 
9. Maintain on-going training for faculty and staff.

Cathedral High School has established an Information Technology Committee.  The primary goal of the committee is to provide guidance and strategic planning in the introduction, maintenance, and expansion of information technology within the school. The committee, appointed by the Principal, is comprised of administrators, educators, fiscal officers and librarians. In addition, advice from outside technicians and other industry professionals is aggressively sought. (See Appendix A -Technology Committee Organizational Chart).

The membership of the Information Technology Committee reports to the Principal. The purpose of this committee is to recommend standards, recommend expansion, coordinate purchases, and prioritize spending in a manner so as to maximize goals and objectives of the plan, and to oversee the introduction of enhanced technical professional development for members of the faculty and staff. 

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IV. ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL SITUATION

1. A secure primary data room, located in the administrative wing, houses all networking equipment for administrative computer operations.
2. A secure library workroom houses the library server (used for electronic research and high-speed networked printing);
3. A secure server, located in the Broillet Lab, is for the use of students enrolled in College Early Admissions Courses as well as the general school population, by course, and upon request.

1.  Hardware — Pentium™ IV, 2.80 GHz processor; 1 Gb RAM; 1.44 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; two (2) 120GB ATA100 7200 rpm hard drives; 32x10x40-12A IDE CD-RW/DVD-ROM; multimedia keyboard & optical mouse

2.  Software — Windows 2000 Advanced Server™, Adobe Acrobat Professional™, DameWare™ Remote Control Application, Version 3.72.0.0; Macromedia™ Suite MX. 

1. Hardware - Dell Power Edge 500SC, 1.2 GHz Celeron Processor, 512 MB ECC-RAM, Primary Hard Drive 120GB, Back up Hard Drive 80GB, DVD Burner, 1.44 MB Floppy Drive, standard mouse and keyboard.

2. Software - Windows Server Standard 2000, network shared files for Quickbooks, OSCAR Gradebook Program DOS based, Raisers Edge database program, Norton Ghost 9.0, Symantec Antivirus 8.1

1. Hardware - Dell Power Edge 400SC, Intel Pentium 4, 2.4 Ghz HT, 512 MB Ram, Primary Hard Drive 40GB, Backup Hard Drive 40GB, Additonal 80GB Hard Drive for misc. data storage, DVD+ burner/CD Burner, 1.44 MB Floppy Drive, standard keyboard and mouse.

2. Software - Windows Server 2003 Standard Ed, Symantec Antivirus 9.0, Norton Ghost 9.0, Follett system.

1.  Principal – Compaq™, 1.3 GHz Celeron™ Processor; 256 Mb RAM; 18GB drive; 1.22 mb 3.5 disk drive; CD-RW drive; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networkable HP DeskJet™ 840c printer 

2.  Academic Vice Principal – Dell Dimension™ 4400, 1.6 GHz Pentium IV Processor; 128 Mb RAM; 18GB hard drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networkable HP DeskJet™ 840c printer 

3.  Financial Director – Compaq Presario™, 800 Mb Celeron™ Processor; 63 Mb RAM; 12GB drive; 1.2 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; standard keyboard; optical mouse; non-networked HP LaserJet™ III printer 

4.  Junior-Senior Guidance Counselor – E-Machines™ T1090, 900 Mhz Celeron™ Processor; ; 128 mb ram; 19GB hard drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; standard keyboard and mouse; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 920c printer 

5.  Dean of Students – Compaq™ Presario, 700 Mhz AMD Duron™ Processor; 128 Mb RAM; 17.5GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 920c printer 

6.  Registrar – E-machines™ T1120, 1.2 GHz Celeron™ Processor; 256 Mb Sync DRAM; 40GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-RW; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networked HP 970 Ce HP DeskJet™ printer. 

7.  Bookkeeper – Compaq™ Presario, 400 Mhz Pentium II Processor; 96 Mb RAM; 12.7GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; Zip™ drive; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 920c printer 

8.  Principal’s Secretary – Dell Dimension™ 4400, 800 Mhz Pentium III; 126 Mb RAM; 18GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 952 printer 

9.  Attendance Office – E-machines™ D2346, 2300+ AMD™ Atholon™ Processor; 256 Mb RAM; 40GB hard drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-RW; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 697c printer 

10.  Receptionist – Compaq™ Presario, 166 mhz Celeron™ Processor; 60 Mb RAM; 1.5GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 812C printer 

11.  Advancement Director – Compaq™ Presario, 300 Mhz Pentium Processor; 256 Mb RAM; 18GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; standard mouse and keyboard; non-networked HP DeskJet™ 812C printer 

12.  Athletic Director – None 

13.  Freshman-Sophomore Guidance Counselor – Compaq™ Presario, 400 Mhz Pentium II Processor; 96 Mb RAM; 12.7GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; Zip™ drive; standard mouse and keyboard

1.  Broillet Lab - Lab consists of twenty-four (24) Dell Dimension™ 4400, 1.6 GHz Pentium IV Processor; 128 Mb RAM; 18GB hard drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; standard mouse and keyboard 

2.  Ten of the twelve classrooms located in the new wing of Cathedral High School have been developed into Type Three classrooms which contain permanently installed multimedia technology. The two remaining classrooms are expected to be converted to Type Three classrooms by September 2006. 

3.  Room 202  – Computer Lab consists of 26 Title I system as follows: Dell Optiplex™ GX; 900 Mhz Celeron™ Processor; 126 Mb RAM;  18GB drive; 1.22 Mb 3.5 floppy drive; CD-ROM; standard keyboard and optical mouse; each networked to a HP LaserJet™ 4050 N printer.  Software on each workstation includes: Microsoft Windows 98™; general office, graphics, and typing tutorial applications.

4.  Mathematics lab - The mathematics lab consists of eleven (11) IBM Think Pad computers, 1.80 GHz Pentium IV Processor, 256 Mb RAM; 20GB hard drive. Each of the systems located in the mathematics lab is equipped with the New Management Management System™ Math Tutorial program and Alegebra Class™ software. 

4.  Auditorium - The auditorium, when utilized as a lecture hall with seating for 75 students, is equipped as a Type Four Multimedia Auditorium with a mobile projection system and high speed Internet access.

5.  See Appendix B (Cathedral High School Technology Inventory) for a list of computer equipment and peripherals and their designated locations.

1.  Library Services  – See Appendix C (Cathedral High School Library Inventory) for a list of computers and peripherals located in the Cathedral High School Library.

A.  The Cathedral High School Information Technology Plan focuses on using industry-wide standard hardware and software to fully integrate information technology into the existing curriculum.  Increased focus is to be placed on applications to be used throughout the learning process.  Technology has two basic components: devices (hardware) and applications (software).  All administrators, faculty and staff members, as well as students, should develop a proficiency to use the appropriate device and application to use problem-solving strategies and/or provide an end product (e.g. written composition, Power Point, video or oral presentation, lesson plans, reports).  Devices to be mastered include, but are not limited to: 

1. Mainstream electronics such as telephones, calculators, televisoins, VCRs, and radio;
2. Copiers, printers, digital cameras, digital video, fax machines, and scanners;
3. Computers, universal communications (single device, pager, cellular, digital, and Internet communications); 
4. A high-speed Local Area Network  (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure, creating a school-wide intranet as well as connections to the Internet.

1. Cathedral High School must strive to standardize the PC platforms, Microsoft Windows™ Operating System (OS) and the version of Microsoft Office™ software suite.   It is critical that the training progresses as the student advances through each grade level, without the necessity of having to learn alternative computer applications. Platform of choice for desktops is Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 2.
2. Reach a 1:5 ratio of PCs to students, down from the current 1:7 ratio. 
3. Aggressively pursue existing non-appropriate funds in order to maintain a stable budget for the replacement and maintenance of assets. In particular, increased efforts should be made to secure E-rate discount funding, where available.
4. Implement a 3-year refresh cycle, beginning with the library and labs, moving PCs from the library and labs into classrooms 
5. Evaluate and maintain site licenses for software 
6. Keep current inventory of all hardware and software, which should include value, serial numbers, components, and location of assets 

1. Cathedral High School should strive to standardize the version of Microsoft Windows™ Operating System (OS) for both server and desktop applications. 
2. Windows 2000 Advanced Server Software™ or later is recommended in order to insure compatibility and reduce maintenance and overhead costs. 
3. All desktop computers should standardize the use of the Windows XP Desktop Operating System, bundled with Microsoft Office™ XP Suite (Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint).
4. The library should maintain a high volume, low maintenance, networkable laser printer. 
5. Classrooms should all be equipped with substantially similar mid-volume, low maintenance, network ready laser printers. Cost of Ownership (COO) should be a primary consideration, with purchase of inkjet printers are primary printers to be discouraged. 

VI.  STRATEGIES AND TIME LINE

1. Convert the two remaining classrooms in the new wing from Type One Classrooms into Type Three Classrooms
2. Convert all classrooms in the original building from Type One Classrooms into Type Three Classrooms

• General Purpose Classroom (Type One): These rooms are general-purpose classrooms and can be of varying sizes. Although no technology is permanently installed, the classroom environment has a network connection and allows the use of mobile technology upon request. 
• Video Playback Classroom (Type Two): In addition to preparedness for mobile technology, these rooms contain permanently installed basic video playback equipment. They may optionally contain a wall mounted video monitor. 
• Multimedia Classroom (Type Three): These rooms contain permanently installed multimedia technology. The video playback system projects through a permanently installed multimedia projection system from a mounted projector. A lecturn containing networked computers also uses the overhead projection system, computer, VCR, DVD and an installed sound system.
• Multimedia Auditorium (Type Four): As rooms get larger, their requirements for technology change. A Multimedia Auditorium seats more than 50-100. It contains all Multimedia Classroom technology, and in addition, has an installed speech reinforcement sound system, to include assistive listening devices (required by ADA). The specifications for whiteboard and projection also change as the room gets larger. If overhead transparencies are used in teaching and/or presentations, a high intensity overhead transparency projector will also be needed. 

School Year 2005-2006

1. Purchase three (3) LCD projectors

Estimated cost: $3,900
2. Purchase three (3) DVD-VHS combination players

Estimated cost: $400
3. Purchase three (3) desktop computers systems with Microsoft™ bundled software

Estimated cost: $4,200
4. Purchase three (3) multimedia lecterns and ancillary hardward

Estimated cost: $1,800
5. Permanently install all multimedia equipment, including the installtion of a control panel

Estimated cost: $9,000

1. Complete puchase and installation of all equipment in remaining classrooms in new wing
2. Library: Purchase new netserver and associated server software with licenses to library replacement

Estimated cost: $3,200
3. Library: Purchase update to current desktop applications with Microsoft Enterprise™ licenses

Estimated cost: $1,800
4. Library: Purchase five (5) desktop computers systems with Microsoft™ bundled software

Estimated cost: $2,400

1. Purchase seven (7) LCD projectors

Estimated cost: $9,100
2. Purchase seven (7) DVD-VHS combination players

Estimated cost: $850
3. Purchase seven (7) desktop computers systems with Microsoft™ bundled software

Estimated cost: $9,200
4. Purchase seven (7) multimedia lecterns and ancillary hardward

Estimated cost: $2,800
5. Permanently install all multimedia equipment, including the installtion of a control panel

Estimated cost: $18.000

VII.  BUDGET

The above estimated budget costs do not include cost of maintenance plans and extended warranties, which Cathedral High School also desires to purchase. 

Sufficient funding to implement and sustain this plan will be an ongoing factor. It is the intent of the Information Technology Committee that Cathedral High School will aggressively pursue all available grants for the implementation of information technology in an educational setting. Pursuit of non-appropriated funds should be directed to hardware and software purchased funded by grants made available through the University of Texas at El Paso, and professional development grants in conjunction with the Region 19 Educational Service Center.  Pursuit of non-appropriated funds from Federal Communication Grant (E-rate) discounts should be directed for maintanence of communications equipment and other infrastructure costs. In addition, funding for advancement of this Techonology Plan will be derived from laboratory fees assessed in the furtherance of the College Early Admissions Program, conducted in concert with the El Paso Community College. 

E-Rate discounts are available for phone line coverage, wireless phone coverage and broadband access for Internet usage. Cathedral High School will timely attempt to secure E-Rate funding to cover the same as above plus one additional broadband line, internal wireless phone system and for the cost of a filter for Internet usage. Funds that are not covered under E-Rate will come out of the local school budget. 

For those items listed for which funding has not yet been received, Cathedral High School will aggressively pursue funding through grant applications and private donations. Please contact the Development Office by phone at 915-532-3238 if you have information on financial sources that can aid in helping us toward fulfilling any of the above goals. 

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VIII. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

In June of 2005 Cathedral High School teachers were surveyed concerning the use of educational technology in teaching and learning. The results of the survey are summarized below. 

• 98% of the responding teachers believe that technology is, or can be, essential to their teaching; 
• 85% of responding teachers use technology regularly for professional tasks such as lesson planning and record keeping. 49% report that they use some level of computer technology in instruction at least once a week and 36% said they use it for this purpose nearly every day; 
• Among the benefits of technology cited by large numbers of teachers are more careful/broadly based research (55%), ease of writing and editing (54%), easier understanding of difficult concepts (39%), and improved critical thinking/problem solving skills (35%); 
• 96% of responding teachers report that they have a very comfortable level of competence in use of information technology in the classroom but only 25% believe that they have had sufficient professional development of this kind; 
• 85% of responding teachers report that they would strongly benefit from professional development in the area of introducing and incorporating information technology into their existing lesson plans; 
• Over three quarters (76%) of the responding teachers stated that they had learned about educational technology through work with their assigned mentor; 
• 84% of responding teachers rely on other technologically enabeled mentors for help when using technology with their students at least part of the time. 32% usually or always teach without any such assistance; 
• 73% of the teachers believe that they and their students had adequate access to computers to accomplish the curriculum goals of their grade, albeit not in the school enviroment. 95% of the teachers believed that computers available for student use at school contained adequate capability to accomplish assignments; 
• 85% state that having regular access to an LCD projector and associated equipment would (or already does) provide a significant learning resource to their classroom; 
• 65% of the teachers report that they frequently use email to communicate with parents.

• A subcommittee of the Information Technology Planning Committee (TPC), called the Technology Curriculum Committee (TCC), will develop an information technology curriculum to determine how and when skills will be taught in particular classes. 

• Teachers will complete the North Carolina BASIC Technology Competencies for Educators Self-Assessment Tool (http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/tap/assess.htm), or its equivalent on an annual basis. This will additionally help determine growth areas needed. 

• Teachers will give 15-30 minute presentations of “best practices” learned during faculty meetings, to share possible applications and generalized approaches. 

• The TCC will create a series of mini-workshops for faculty and staff development so that all teachers will share a minimum, baseline level of technological literacy in addition to other workshops focusing on advanced Internet applications. All workshops will endeavor to increase the teachers’ comfort level with computers. 

• The TCC will designate a representative from each department as a point-of-contact for the Librarian as well as other faculty members in the capacity of a curriculum consultant. These curriculum consultants will be available to help teachers develop innovative lesson plans that integrate the Internet and other technologies in pedagogically significant ways. Special in-service sessions will focus on these objectives. 

• The librarian will maintain a Teacher Resources web page link of significant website resources and databases that will help teachers develop interesting and engaging projects using the Internet. A wealth of educational web sites exist which include online publications, guides for construction project design, ideas for “web quests,” special projects registries, and guidelines for evaluating online resources. 

• In addition to online sources, the librarian will provide print resources related to Internet issues to assist teachers in becoming more familiar with the Internet’s value as a teaching resource. These resources will be available in the Professional Development section in the library. 

• The librarian will subscribe to educational discussion lists via email that post requests for collaborative projects with other classrooms across the nation. The librarian will screen and forward such messages to the appropriate departments for review and action.

IX.  ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES

A.  In General 

A.  It is the expressed policy of Cathedral High School that students will not use personal computer systems that have been assigned to faculty and staff members. 

B.  Students are restricted to the use of student designated personal computer systems for instructional course-specific purposes. Faculty and staff are not to permit students to make use of classroom personal computer systems for the purpose of printing assigned homework, but should instead be referred to the library wordprocessing center. 

C.  Cathedral High School has implemented an Internet Acceptable Use Policy for Students and a separate Internet Acceptable Use Policy for its faculty and staff. (See Appendix D – Student Acceptable Use Policy and Appendix E – Faculty and Staff Acceptable Use Policy).

X.  EVALUATION AND REVISION PROCESS

• The TPC, consisting of administrators, teachers and students at present and to include parents in the future, will meet at least once on a quarterly basis to review and assess this plan in light of our stated goals and strategies. 
• Revisions to the Information Technology Plan can be incorporated after each of these meetings to better reflect the current situation. The revised Information Technology Plan will be available for review on the Cathedral High School web page. 
• The TPC will stay apprised of current innovations and software such that necessary purchases can be considered for the future. 
• The TPC will prepare, present, and assess data involving the assessment tools mentioned in Section VI above, such that progress toward the goals of curriculum integration can be measured.