Kaneland plans computer upgrades; will add laptops, mobile capability
By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News February 27, 2013 6:16PM
Updated: April 4, 2013 6:20AM
The Kaneland School Board has approved making infrastructure improvements to increase mobile computing capabilities and add more mobile devices in classrooms.
Technology director Tim Wolf said the district is changing a replacement cycle of desktop computers, held off for the past three years, to reflect advances in technology. “We are looking at more 21st century learning with mobile devices and laptops,” he said.
“Our goal is to get a 21st century learning device in our teachers’ hands before the end of the school year and give them additional training in the 2013-2014 school year.”
Wolf was authorized to begin meeting with teachers to discuss the options for the types of laptops and devices available that would work for the district’s 335 certified staff members.
“We will still have desktop computers for student use, but the main device we want teachers to use starting in the fall will be the laptop,” Wolf said.
Wolf said the new laptops for teachers will allow the district to repurpose computers that are 4-years-old and replace some of the oldest computers. Of the district’s 2,134 computers, 400 are 8-years-old and 189 are 9-years-old, he said.
Wolf said simultaneously the district has a 2013-2014 infrastructure improvement plan that will include completing the build-out of the district’s wireless capabilities this summer.
“We are looking at installing 202 additional access points throughout the district,” he said.
He said the district is also looking at fiber optics build-out for two buildings.
“Our first goal is to connect the middle school to the high school with a fiber backbone,” he said.
