Top 10 Tech-Savvy School Boards Announced

FOLSOM, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/14/2004 -- The nation's top 10, digitally-advanced school boards have been announced by the Center for Digital Education (CDE) and National School Boards Association (NSBA) based on their first annual Digital School Boards Survey. The study examined how school boards and their districts are applying information technology (IT) to better engage their local communities and constituents, and improve the delivery of services and quality of education to public schools.

More than 2,500 school districts were invited to participate in the survey, which grouped school boards into three categories based on student population: More than 15,000 students; 2,501 to 15,000 students; and 2,500 or fewer students. Survey questions and criteria focused on school boards' online presence, technology applications that allow the public to interact with school board members, access to information such as school board calendars, policies and agendas, and technology advancements in the school board chambers.

"When we launched the Digital School Boards Survey this past spring, our goal was to obtain a measurement or benchmark of how our school boards are successfully applying technology to serve their constituents," said Marina Leight, director of CDE. "I'm pleased to say that our school boards have surpassed my expectations and -- to some degree or another -- are taking advantage of all that IT has to offer. Everyone wins with technology -- the school boards, parents, the community -- everyone!"

Ann Flynn, NSBA's director of education technology, is also pleased with the outcome of the survey and the opportunity to document the ways in which districts are utilizing today's technologies to better engage their local communities and parents.

"We commend these top-ranked districts for their commitment to innovation and I know they will serve as models for other districts that are anxious to adapt new approaches to old challenges," she said.

The top 10 digital school boards in the category of more than 15,000 students are: 

1st place: Plano Independent School District, Texas, Board of Trustees
2nd place: Spotsylvania County Schools, Virginia, School Board
3rd place: Calcasieu Parish Public Schools, Louisiana, School Board
4th place: Cherokee County, Georgia, Board of Education
5th place: Duval County Public Schools, Florida, School Board
6th place: Forsyth County School System, Georgia, Board of Education
7th place: Henry County Schools, Georgia, School Board
8th place (tie): Houston County, Georgia, Board of Education
8th place (tie): Richmond, Virginia, Board of Education
9th place: Newton County School System, Georgia, Board of Education
10th place: Dougherty County School System, Georgia, Board of Education
According to Plano Independent School District (ISD) officials, for nearly a decade, the ISD community has actively supported the use of technology resources in communication, teaching and learning, and the administration of school support services. The planning process used to determine these technology initiatives has been an inclusive process modeled by other school districts around the country that are also working to actively engage their stakeholders.

"Being recognized as one of the nation's most exemplary, digitally-advanced school board is especially gratifying given that a primary goal of our board of trustees is to provide a wide variety of communication paths for our students, parents and community members to use," said Mary Beth King, Plano ISD board president. "The board actively involves all stakeholders as partners in the business of educating our youth and this recognition demonstrates that the board's efforts haven't gone unnoticed."

The top 10 digital school boards in the category of 2,501 to 15,000 students are: 

1st place: Liberty County, Georgia, Board of Education
2nd place: Gainesville City School System, Georgia, Board of Education
3rd place (tie): Owen J. Roberts School District, Pennsylvania, Board of
  School Directors
3rd place (tie): Vineland, New Jersey, Board of Education
4th place: Pocono Mountain School District, Pennsylvania, Board of School
  Directors
5th place: Roanoke County Public Schools, Virginia, School Board
6th place: City of Pontiac, Michigan, Board of Education Trustees
7th place: Clarke County School District, Georgia, Board of Education
8th place: Los Fresnos CISD, Texas, Board of Trustees
9th place (tie): Walton County Schools, Georgia, Board of Education
9th place (tie): Howell Township Public Schools, New Jersey, Board of
  Education
10th place: Colonial School District, Pennsylvania, Board of School
  Directors
Liberty County Board of Education (BOE) members are involved in the use of technology through technology training, digital communication with the community, and participation in a wireless meeting environment. Officials say the BOE work environment mirrors the learning environment of its students.

"The Board recognizes the importance of technology in the 21st century learning environment," said Sharon Joiner, executive director of technology/media of the Liberty County School System. "This is reflected through its support and funding of technology initiatives that include strengthening of the infrastructure, increasing hardware and software accessibility, and expanding professional development. Each initiative creates a positive learning environment for our children."

The top 10 digital school boards in the category of 2,500 or fewer students are: 

1st place: Jefferson City Schools, Georgia, Board of Education
2nd place: Somerset Hills School District, New Jersey, Board of Education
3rd place: Golf School District 67, Illinois, Board of Education
4th place: Kiel Area School District, Wisconsin, Board of Education
5th place: United School District, Pennsylvania, Board of Education
6th place: Minooka Community High School District 111, Illinois, Board of
  Education
7th place: Kayenta Unified School District 27, Arizona, Board of
  Education
8th place: Babylon School District, New York, Board of Education
9th place: East Amwell School District, New Jersey, Board of Education
10th place (tie): Buckingham County Schools, Virginia, School Board
10th place (tie): Placer County Office of Education, California, Board of
  Education
First-place Jefferson City Schools' Associate Superintendent for Instruction, Dr. Sherrie Gibney-Sherman, said her office has worked very hard to advance its technology use in many areas, including school board applications.

"We find ourselves having to constantly balance what is practical for our small system to embrace without over-extending our capacity," Gibney-Sherman said. "Currently our paperless board meetings have proven to be quite effective for school board members and staff. The immediate access to our school district policy and state law makes referencing efficient and quick. Electronic access for everyone through our Web site and e-mail server creates a level of comfort of knowing that the world is just a keyboard away. We look forward to moving to the next electronic step, whatever that might be. It is a source of pride knowing that we are modeling the attitude we hope our students and staff will exhibit as they embrace learning using new tools and applications."

The 2004 Digital School Board Survey is underwritten by 3Com. For more information on the Digital School Boards Survey, contact Rhonda Wilson, communications director, at 916/932-1321 or rwilson@centerdigitaled.com.

ABOUT US:

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute providing public education and private industry leaders with decision support, research and professional services to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in 21st century schools, colleges and universities (www.centerdigitaled.com).

The National School Boards Association is a national federation of state school boards associations that represent more than 95,000 school board members who govern the nation's public schools. The organization's mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education throughout the United States through local school board leadership (www.nsba.org).