Computer Facilities Survey 
Western CUSD #12
Prepared by Ginny Lister

Description of the School 

Number of students: 665

Number of faculty and staff: 57 teachers, 3 administrators

Number/name of buildings (include grade levels housed in building): 
3 buildings:
Western Schools, Barry location= PreK-4 and High School 9-12
Western Schools, Kinderhook location= Junior High 5-8
Western Schools, Hull location=PreK-4

Number of LANs: 3 (one per building)

Number of WANs/MANs: none

Network Requirements/Services Provide details on how the following network services are used. 

File sharing (the ability for more than one person to look at or modify a file): 
Students can only access their own drive on the network
Teachers can access their drive, all student drives, samples drive, and shared folders on the public drive
Administrators have full access to all drives

Applications sharing (programs stored on one computer and used by many people): We don’t share applications. Our programs are installed on each computer and/or on the server.

Print sharing (sharing a printer or printers among many users): Each classroom and office has a printer. The only printers that are shared are the lab printers.

E-mail: The district uses Gaggle.net for district-wide email.

Library system (complete library management or catalog system): We use OPAC (on-line public access catalog). Students can access the library catalog from any district computer. Books are checked in and out by a bar code system. Students use the digital code on their lunch cards to check books out.

Information services/database sharing: We have Electronic Library. My technology director says we don’t do any database sharing.

Internet access (include information on whether service is dedicated or dial-up, speed of connection, name of ISP and what services they provide):
Internet is accessed through Adams.net
All connections are high speed, 100+ Ethernet
63 computers are wireless access

Remote access (access to the network from the outside, i.e., home): NA – we cannot access the network from outside the school buildings

Network security: Novell and DeepFreeze

Remote management (manage the network from outside the school system): NA

Wide area networking method and speed (used to connect all schools within your district): NA  each building is on a separate network, and you cannot access one building’s network from another building.

Filtering software installed (if none, you may still need to respond to the next statement dealing with filtering):  Issues related to filtering that are perhaps being discussed and/or dealt with:  DeepFreeze will not allow us to download programs. We have to get the technology director to take DeepFreeze off, make our changes, and then have her turn DeepFreeze back on. It is difficult to get permission to download anything.

Network Protocols 

List each protocol and its use:

100+Ethernet-58 classrooms
Wireless-49 classrooms
100+Ethernet-2 libraries
Wireless-2 libraries
100+Ethernet-5 computer labs
Wireless-2 computer labs
100+Ethernet-5 Administrative offices
Wireless-5 Administrative offices

File and Information Servers 

Number, type (Windows NT-based, Apple-based, etc.), location, and use of each server.  

6 servers High speed access 56K
Windows IE based
3 located in the High School
1 located in the Junior High School
1 located in the elementary at Barry
1 located in the elementary at Hull

5 servers under 2 years old
1 server 5+ years old

Added CD-ROM towers (may be attached to main file server or dedicated CD-ROM server): none

Client Computer Technology 

What type(s) of computers do you currently have and what types do you envision? 

Computer type and quantities: all PC

Existing:

Classrooms
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
125	24	48	

Computer labs
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
24	23	76	

Media Center/Library

Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
25	15	11	

Administrative Offices
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
2	6	2	

Teacher Offices
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
0	6	0	

Laptops:
Classrooms
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
13	5	1	

Computer lab
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
4	0	0	

Media Center/Library
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
0	0	0	

Administrative Offices
Under 2 years old	2-5 years old	5+ years old	
3	1	0	

Operating Systems
Classrooms
Windows XP	Windows 2000	Windows 98	
184	15	17	

Computer labs
Windows XP	Windows 2000	Windows 98	
76	51	0	

Media Center/Library

Windows XP	Windows 2000	Windows 98	
41	7	3	

Administrative Offices
Windows XP	Windows 2000	Windows 98	
12	0	2	

Teacher Offices
Windows XP	Windows 2000	Windows 98	
6	0	0	

Network Equipment
Classrooms
Hubs	Switches	Wireless Access Points	
0	30	6	

Computer labs
Hubs	Switches	Wireless Access Points	Router	
2  	6	2	1	

Media Center/Library

Hubs	Switches	Wireless Access Points	
3	2	0	

Administrative Offices
Hubs	Switches	Wireless Access Points	
0	1	0	

Other Locations
Hubs	Switches	Wireless Access Points	Firewall	
6	9	6	1	

Planned

The current plan is to update the older computers on a rotating basis as financially appropriate. We have added several computers recently through grants, and will continue to do so if possible.

Printer type and quantities:
Existing:
Networked printers=23
Stand-alone printers=50

Planned

Printers are to be update on a rotating basic as possible.

Computer placement: What are the philosophies concerning whether to put computers in classrooms and/or labs?  How do your personal philosophies compare? The original philosophy was to put computers in labs. After we experienced difficulties in scheduling lab time, and teachers began to see possibilities for using computers in the classroom, the philosophy changed to a tentative “middle ground” where the labs are updated as much as possible, but new computers are placed in classrooms on a rotating basis. Teachers who have proven they are ready and willing to use the computers in class are more apt to get new computers.

I have mixed feelings about this issue. In my classroom, I’d rather have the computers in the room so I have constant access. I frequently have students on computers while some of us are working on something else. However, I don’t like to see computers sitting idle in rooms when the teacher prefers not to use the computer (or is too uncomfortable to use it in class). In those cases, I think the computers are better off in the lab where everyone has access.

How are hardware specifications determined before requesting equipment bids? Our technology director consults with our contracted computer company and together they make all decisions about hardware/software purchases. Administrators approve the amount of spending, but the items being purchased are determined by the technology director.

Network Wiring 

What type(s) of wiring (or wireless) connectivity is used for each LAN (fiber, coax, etc.): My technology director does not know the answer to this question. I have emailed the question to our contracted computer company, and I am waiting on a response.

Number of classrooms:58
Number of networked computers in classrooms:197
Number of printers (networked and non-networked) in classrooms:1 per classroom

Number of offices:5
Number of computers in offices:1 per office

Number of computer labs:5
Number of networked computers per lab:
High School Business lab=25
High School Media Center=25
Junior High Lab=25
Elementary Lab (Barry)=15
Elementary Lab (Hull)=11

Number of printers (networked and non-networked) per lab:1 per lab

Number of networked computers in “other” locations:5 (one per office)

Number of non-networked computers:0

Average number of data jacks per classroom:7
Average number of data jacks per computer lab:25

Number of wiring closets and type of equipment contained in each (you should actually visit these closets for a real “eye opener”):5

User Information 

For one of the servers you’ve listed, how many users typically “log on” to it at one time? Supposedly all users could log on at the same time. In reality, doing so will stall or shut down the system. There are usually around 75 users on the high school servers at one time.
 Is there a maximum number of connections? No, but if too many are on at one time, the network really slows down.

At what times are users allowed to use network (only during school days or weekends, too)? The network is available 24/7, but only from computers at school. Teachers and administrators often work on the network after school hours.

 At what times can they plan on help of support staff? Support staff consists of one technology director who works part-time. Her schedule is flexible, and we never know for sure when she will be around. We contact her through notes in her mailbox, or by email.

Training

In what areas is training provided (i.e., data security, file management, network basics, word processing, special software, etc.)?
Training has been offered in file management, network basics, word processing, Windows XP, Office 2007, Inspiration 8, Excel, and any other areas that are requested.

Other issues you’ve discovered: Training has been readily available, but teachers have pointed out the need for time to work with the program or training topic while the information is fresh, instead of having to jump right back into the classroom rush and not having time to try out what you just learned.

Support

How is onsite support of the network (LANs and WAN) and network equipment provided?
The district has a maintenance contract with a local computer company.

Other issues you’ve discovered:
Sometimes support is slow and wait time can be difficult.

Emergency Planning

Data storage backup systems: According to my technology director, we don’t have a current backup system.

UPS (uninterrupted power supply) system: We do have a backup power system (generators) for each server.

Human resources available: One technology director and an off-site computer company.

Outside resources available: Computer Friend (contracted resource)

Service contract(s): Computer Friend (contracted resource)

Other issues:
Obviously, I feel the lack of a backup system for data storage is a major problem. This needs to be corrected as soon as possible.

Physical Locations

What physical accommodations (electrical needs, air conditioning, etc.) had to be made before (or after) the network wiring and computer hardware was installed?
Air conditioning had to be installed in the labs and media centers.