Tech director says locally improved network supports enhancement of District 361 education
District technology director Dave Skwarok told the Falls School Board Monday that he came with “big news.”
The Falls School District could soon “be connected with fiber,” Skwarok said, adding that much configuration will be required for that to happen.
“Fiber is going to open a lot of doors,” he said.
With the installment of thin filaments of glass through which light beams are transmitted over long distances, comes the ability to receive enormous amounts of data. Falls students could take a Spanish class in Spain without traveling, where the primary language spoken is Spanish, according to Skwarok.
Skwarok also announced the local potential for Internet2 through the fiber connection. Internet2 is a state-of-the-art, not for profit, “private internet” which accommodates opportunities for participation and collaboration with a host of higher education resources. An example would be an almost hands-on connection with the University of Minnesota which is a prime site, according to Skwarok.
“You could run its (U of M) electron microscope in real time,” Skwarok marveled. “(This technology) becomes a seamless, redundant way, and redundancy is good when it comes to this.”
As planned within previous budgets, Skwarok said new computers will be installed in the district. “Upgrading (computers) does not pay,” he said. “It’s like throwing money at a dead horse.” New laptop carts are also expected, which he stressed are well-utilized.
Skwarok also explained a new notification system available for the district called “ConnectEd” which would literally facilitate the “calling of every home in the district within seconds,” which should be used sparingly to alert parents that something important is occurring, he said.
Internet portals through which parents can get a quick view of what their child is doing will also become available, as will opportunities for students to be aligned with the individual MCA II testing areas of which they need more focus to achieve better test scores.
“Smart boards” are large wall boards which, when touched, react as if “you’ve touched the computer” and also become a possibility for the district, Skwarok said.
Superintendent Don Langan asked Skwarok to define the impact of a failed November referendum election on technology progress for the district.
“We would be in such dire straits without improvements,” Skwarok said. “That would mean back to ‘prison computers.’ I hate to think of what that would be like.”
