ACTEM - 2006 March Minutes

John McCue gave an update on MEDMS – Kevin Jones has been hired at DOE as Information Officer. Presently discussing the next steps for student module eventual re-engineering to be done by 2007-2008. The Inform, assessment module, is in pilot testing now in 19-20 districts. Presently each district has their own database for testing. John noted that the LAS is in limbo at the moment. Finance module RFP is in negotiation with CPSI and ECS for contracts with a target date of Jan. 2007.

Question – when to exit students that move? – student should be exited as of the last attendance day at your district. Note- students can not be entered into another school the same day they are exited from another.

Bette Manchester added that she is organizing a Data Summit to summarize what data is actually being collected where and when.

Gary referred to the ACTEM website'ss news posting. The webmaster will work to keep it up to date with technology news in the state. A meeting calendar is also available for events in and outside of Maine.

Suggestion – contact other organizations for posting and using this calendar. The state also has a calendar to cross-post our events.

Call for presenters form on the Conference section of the site. Vince suggests a vendor section be placed on the here also.

Jim Moulton – announced and requested proposals for the 3rd annual Student Tech Team conference on May 25 at USM, Gorham sponsored by the College for Applied Technology, Engineering and Science. They are looking for sessions that empower kids. Registration forms and information will be posted tomorrow on the MLTI site with a low fee for participation. If your school has a tech team that would like to be part of a presentation, please contact Jim. This is open to middle and high school with a goal to support the students that are supporting and helping with the technology at their schools.

1. MLTI (Jeff Mao) – Jeff explained that state completes the RFP process because public dollars are involved. Two areas of concern were voiced:

1) A vendor who met with Jeff and related that his company would NOT bid since they had been told by technology people in the schools that it was a done deal.

2)A synopsis of a bid was posted to the ACTEM list – if the review process had not been completed, this would have resulted in that company being disqualified from the process. The public must be more responsible.

There has not been a formal announcement, but Apple was awarded the bid. There is an open session to read the bid proposals at 1 pm today. The amount per year per unit was $289 / seat / year over 4 years. Backup procedure will be different – StudyWiz will be used for this. There is an ongoing discussion on every school getting ARDesktop to push packages with an on-site system.

Deployment has not been finalized, but teacher's as long as FTE with 50%+ 7-8, one. principal, one tech, one certified librarian. Share your stories with your legislators.

Question on Timeline for new units – just like first year with teacher machines for summer training. Question on warranty coverage -- Still no accidental damage coverage.

Question on computers that we are about to buy – RAM upgrades, maybe ACTEM could do a purchase? As of now, the buyout looks good and the Asset Manager is the formal list. Buyout procedure – you get rights to run the image and software; the machine is yours. If the school isn't going to own them, then some software programs must be removed. By state rules, a district must hold them for 6 months before reselling.

2. Title IID Ed. Tech. Grants . Dennis Kunces distributed a Supplemental Questions form which will be coming to your districts in the Spring. Next school year it will be funded at ½ of the present year. Senate has put some funding back into the budget and we are waiting on the House. Contact your legislators about the Federal Programs.

3. Bette Manchester gave everyone a reminder concerning MLTI as a teaching and learning project. She asked that we look at the school level capacity for professional development. Study shows that there is a direct correlation between success and professional development. Content meetings are still happening with schedules on Maine Learns, Mathematics projects are still going on, eMint program is in full swing. Regional meetings are coming up in the Spring (building Principal, teacher and tech leaders and district tech director should attend).

Bette announced a major workshop at Northeastern – International Conference on 1-1 computing in June see Anytime Anywhere Learning site.

4. NWEA discussion – it is growing across the state and comments were made on the possibility of using it in place of MEA.

5. Targeted funds – rules are still under development. In general: Ray Poulin is working with technology using the new finance model accounting codes to come up with a subset of codes that would include instructional technology and the ability to use a percentage of each lines to direct funding in instructional technology. The reporting plan is still the 14 point plan with EPS modifications – no new plan is needed at this time.

6. enGauge site is being used for developing the state plan – use it as a base and then get those 14 points into it.

7. Gregg Kaloust from Kannon Communications – has negotiated an agreement in principal to do a Maine consortium buy through ACTEM for FirstClass purchases. Roughly up to 50 % discount during the purchasing window (April 15 – July 15). Let Craig know that you would be likely to purchase firstclass licenses – all licensing will come into this package. For now, maintenance and support is not available.

a. Craig Dickinson – all financial reports now are posted under meetings link on the ACTEM website. This quarter has been difficult as ACTEM moved offices, changed Business Managers. and transported all records to QuickBooks.

b. Professional Development – Dennis Kunces reported that $3816 has been paid out. Pending $2000. There is an issue with NECC in July this year. Dennis proposed that we allow NECC registrations for summer 2006 be counted in this years reimbursed. Dennis Crowe moved, Sharon Betts seconded – passed.

c. Conference report – Gary Lanoie, chair, reported. Planning meetings have been happening. Some changes are being proposed. 1) expand to Thurs preconference workshops (possible Cony HS, MPA) (3 hour hands on sessions). 2) reception on Thursday evening (Holiday Inn) 3) Keynote start (David Thornburg possible)

f. Mike Nollette – website is transferred and Mike has been trained. He feels that it is now pretty well self maintained. Mike is now working on Tech. Integrator / Professional Development section. The suggestion was to evolve the webmaster into a position more related service, integration, communities, conferences, etc.

Maine student web designer award deadline is this week. John Brandt reported. Awards will be given on May 11th and we need official representation from ACTEM/CITE.