IT Support

This is an interesting read I came across by Dr. Bill Daggett regarding IT Support in the Education community.

More IT Support

A lack of information technology (IT) staffing is keeping schools from realizing the full benefits of technology inside and outside the classroom, according to a recent survey conducted by eSchool News and SchoolDude. The survey included nearly 1,000 school and district leaders. Little funding and the lack of a clear vision were seen as key stumbling blocks to building staff and implementing a successful technology program within the curriculum. Of those surveyed, 64% said their IT budget isn't enough to support technology assets already purchased and nearly 70% said it is not enough to meet their district's IT expectations. One respondent, a technology manager from Irving, Texas, said he has two full-time technicians serving 2,900 students, 300 teachers and administrators, and more than 1,200 computers in a six-school district, with campuses spread across suburban Dallas. This is a far cry from a typical large corporation, which tends to employ one technology support person for every 50 computers at a cost of $142 per computer per year. According to this model, a school district with 1,000 computers would need a staff of 20 and an annual tech-support budget of $1.4 million.

Part of the funding issue has to do with being able to provide a competitive wage to potential IT employees, who can make more in the private sector. Some schools have used creativity to solve their technology challenges. For example, when an IT coordinator asked teachers to help implement technology for learning, the teachers formed a team that guides, assists, and supports their colleagues. The team focuses on the curriculum as the starting point and then suggests appropriate technology to support it. (See "By the Numbers" for more statistics.)

Source: www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?
i=51522;_hbguid=2d059a60-7877-4119-949b-20e90d76e90e

JDS | CIO