The Lynchburg City Schools’ Technology Plan expands the school board vision to ensure that technology plays an integral role. The expanded vision of the technology committee ensures that:

  • New and innovative instructional technology will continue to be investigated, tested, and evaluated for utilization in classrooms and libraries.
  • The latest and most effective instructional software and programs designed to enhance learning for both students and staff will continue to be researched, piloted, and evaluated for implementation division-wide.
  • Library media specialists at all levels will provide instruction and guidance to students and staff as they become independent, skillful, and discriminate users of research, information, and technology.
  • Learning will be expanded in non-traditional ways for non-traditional groups of students. Students in supervision with the court system will be able to access learning software and packages from a computer terminal at a remote site. Students at alternative sites will utilize the network to access learning resources. Adults who want to expand their knowledge will be able to access learning activities from the Adult Education Center.
  • Neighborhood recreation centers and centers housing after school tutorial programs will link to the wide-area network via DSL lines allowing students to access instructional software after school as part of a city-wide commitment to reading.
  • Staff development will be provided in a variety of formats including division-wide and on-site technology in-services, one-on-one assistance, instructional modules, web sites and graduate classes. Teachers will demonstrate the ability to perform technology skills defined by the school division and by the Virginia Department of Education’s Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel.
  • Each school will have a web page describing its program that will be linked to the school division’s web site and to the state department of education’s web site. Each school’s web page will include up-to-date accountability data contained on the state report card.
  • The Lynchburg City School Division’s web page will link to the web pages of the city and to the department of economic development. It will describe all programs in the division, provide current data for accountability, and highlight special programs.
  • Workstations will be upgraded to support instructional programs and to allow students to take the state SOL tests on-line. Additional computers will be available in a lab setting or through placing more computers into schools on an as-needed basis.
  • The school division will continue to work with city government and the community to broaden a wide-area network linking all schools, government buildings, agencies, and the community through fiber optics and additional wireless connections. This network will allow better utilization of resources and will lead to increased activities to support families within the city.
  • By using a central fiber connection, the city and schools will be able to share resources and better utilize funds. Citizens will be able to access many of these resources. Opportunities to share and jointly fund projects will be maximized.
  • Central Internet access will continue to enable teachers and students at all schools to utilize Internet resources simultaneously and cost-effectively. A firewall located at the central Internet access point will monitor and block sites on the Internet which may be inappropriate for students. Internet access will be enhanced as the need arises.
  • Security policies will govern operations on every computer in the school division. This program will prevent unauthorized access or changes to computer settings and resources. It also will provide logs of computer usage.
  • Secondary schools will have electronic classroom capability to provide new and different instructional opportunities for both students and staff.