The Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014 was passed in the 2014-15 enacted budget and approved by the voters in a statewide referendum held during the 2014 general election. This bond act authorized the issuance of $2 billion of general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure to improve learning and opportunity for students throughout the state.
2024 Investment Plan – Phase 2
The remaining amount allocated to Cambridge CSD is $376,790. This amount will be reimbursed to the district by New York state after approved expenses under the plan have been incurred. There is no time limit on the purchases to be reimbursed and there is no requirement to expend all the funds at one time.
Preconditions
As a precondition to utilizing the SSBA allocations, each district has ensured that there is adequate internet bandwidth (equal to or exceeding 100 Mbps per 1,000 students) to sustain computer-based initiatives. The district’s current internet bandwidth meets the SSBA requirements. The district procures internet service through Spectrum.
Plan Goals
The goals for the Smart Schools Bond allocation closely align to the district’s technology plan. The technology plan goals include:
- Continue to provide accessibility of computers for students by replacing end of life one-to-one devices to continue to support student learning initiatives.
- Update teacher computers and classroom presentation illumination monitors and devices. Update administrators and support staff computer workstations.
- Review new technologies that will continue to promote student-centered learning.
The SSBA allocation will specifically focus on:
- Replacing file and security camera servers.
- Updating teacher classroom computers and classroom presentation illumination monitors.
- Update support staff computers.
Purchase Plan & Allocations
In alignment with the approved 2022-2025 district technology plan, the district plans to utilize SSBA allocations as described below for the SSBA allowable expenditure budget category areas.
- Classroom Technology: $261,790
- School Connectivity: $90,000
- High-Tech Security Features: $25,000
Classroom Technology
The district plans to purchase teacher workstations and interactive displays for the classrooms.
School Connectivity
The district plans to purchase a new file server/virtual environment.
High-Tech Security Features
The district plans to purchase a new security camera server.
Plan Timeline
- Sept. 12, 2024: Final plan approved by the Board of Education
- Sept. 24, 2024: Smart Schools Investment Plan submitted to the State Education Department for approval
- Spring 2025: Plan approved by the Smart Schools review committee
Provisioning & Distribution Timeline
- June 2022: Purchase the requested equipment; 750 Chromebooks, 30 SMART Boards and 100 Dell AIO desktop computers
- July/August 2022: CCS technology staff will set up and deploy the 750 Chromebooks into classroom charging and storage stations. CCS technology and BOCES technical support staff will set up and install 100 Dell staff workstations and the 30 new SMART Boards into classrooms.
The Cambridge Central School District’s Smart Schools Investment Plan was available for public comment Aug. 9-Sept. 12.
The plan was submitted to the state for approval on Sept. 24.
2021 Investment Plan – Phase 1
The total amount allocated to Cambridge CSD is $914,980. This amount will be reimbursed to the district by New York State after approved expenses under the plan have been incurred. There is no time limit on the purchases to be reimbursed and there is no requirement to expend all the funds at one time. The District Technology Committee reviewed the district’s needs and determined that a portion of the funds (Phase I) could be utilized to replace wireless student devices, staff work stations, and classroom display screens that will all support remote and in person classroom instruction and learning.
Preconditions
As a precondition to utilizing the SSBA allocations, each district has ensured that there is adequate internet bandwidth (equal to or exceeding 100 Mbps per 1,000 students) to sustain computer-based initiatives. The district’s current internet bandwidth meets the SSBA requirements. The district procures internet service through the BOCES North East Regional Information Center (NERIC).
Plan Goals
The goals for the Smart Schools Bond allocation closely align to the district’s technology plan. The technology plan goals include:
- Continue to provide accessibility of computers for students by replacing end of life one-to-one devices to continue to support student learning initiatives.
- Update teacher computers and classroom presentation illumination monitors and devices. Update administrators and support staff computer workstations.
- Review new technologies that will continue to promote student-centered learning.
The SSBA allocation will specifically focus on:
- Replacing one-to-one Chromebooks for students.
- Updating teacher classroom computers and classroom presentation illumination monitors.
- Update support staff computers.
Purchase Plan & Allocations
In alignment with the approved 2022-2025 district technology plan, the district plans to utilize SSBA allocations as described below for the SSBA allowable expenditure budget category areas.
- Classroom Technology: $538,064
- Total Phase 1 Expenditures: $538,064
- Unallocated Funds Available for Phase 2: $376,916
Classroom Technology
To support the district’s ongoing one-to-one device initiative for students, the district has implemented Chromebooks as an instructional tool for grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The district plans to purchase 750 Dell 3100 2-in-1- 11.6″ Chromebooks with 4 GB RAM with touchscreen capability to replace current end of life Chromebooks. They will be purchased with the Chrome OS management license so that they can be added to the district’s existing G Suite for Education domain.
To support student learning activities, the district plans to upgrade the teachers’ desktop computers and presentation illumination devices in the classrooms. The support staff computers will also be updated. The district plans to purchase 100 21.5 inch Dell OptiPlex 3280 All in One Series with 8 Gb memory, quoted at $884 per unit, and 10 Apple 21.5 inch iMac computers with 8 Gb of memory quoted at $1,049 per unit. These devices will be used to replace our current desktops which were purchased and deployed in 2015 and are now reaching the end of their life. The district also plans to purchase 30 SMART Board 6075S interactive display LCD panels with an overboard rail mounting system, quoted cost is $5,164 including the mounting rails. SMART Boards to be used as illumination monitors for teacher and student classroom presentation needs and are replacing our current SMART Boards which were purchased in 2012.
- Interactive Whiteboards/Classroom Monitors: $154,920
- Computer Servers: $0
- Desktop Computers: $98,890
- Laptop Computers $0
- Tablet Computers: $284,250
- Other Cost/Classroom Display Screens: $0
- Total: $538,060
Plan Timeline
- Oct. 14, 2021: Final plan approved by the Board of Education
- Oct. 22, 2021: Smart Schools Investment Plan submitted to the State Education Department for approval
- Spring 2022: Plan approved by the Smart Schools review committee with the plan updates listed below
Provisioning & Distribution Timeline
- June 2022: Purchase the requested equipment; 750 Chromebooks, 30 SMART Boards and 100 Dell AIO desktop computers
- July/August 2022: CCS technology staff will set up and deploy the 750 Chromebooks into classroom charging and storage stations. CCS technology and BOCES technical support staff will set up and install 100 Dell staff workstations and the 30 new SMART Boards into classrooms.
Plan Updates
Instead of purchasing iMacs, the district utilized the funds to purchase more Dell All-in-One PCs. Instead of purchasing SMART Boards, the district purchased Promethean Boards.