As the Division of Technology and Information Systems officially welcomes the start of the 2016 – 2017 school year and the anticipated deployment of HS iPads, we are excited about the infrastructure upgrades that took place over the summer. 

Work completed this summer in anticipation of GISD Ready 1:1:

• Each HS received new network stack switches and wireless access points. The original Wi-Fi system was created more as a campus wide coverage system with a few access points spread throughout the building. The new wireless system has access points in each classroom as well as multiple access points in large areas (cafeterias, etc). 
• Firewall, content filter and load balancing applications are being optimized to handle traffic of additional devices.
• Support teams are in place and committed to serve teachers and students of GISD! Each high school has 3 Tech Team members to serve as onsite support. These members include an CTA, Field Service Technician and iTech.

While there is still work remaining as we prepare for the iPad roll out, we are pleased with the improved access and connectivity our students and staff will experience.

In addition to providing wireless access to staff and students on campus, the Division of Technology and Information Systems is excited about partnering with businesses throughout the Tri-Cities that have offered to allow GISD students to use their business Wi-Fi free of charge. To learn more about this exciting initiative, please visit - http://www.garlandisd.net/content/local-businesses-support-ready-11-provide-free-wi-fi-students

To learn more about technology upgrades specific to the GISD Ready 1:1, please visit - http://www.garlandisd.net/content/ready-11 or follow us on twitter @GISD_Technology.

Infrastructure Update

What an exciting past 5 months it has been for the GISD Technology and Information Systems Division!

We have recently completed the switch infrastructure upgrades at seven high school campuses and are waiting the arrival of the new wireless access points. We have heard from our vendor that the wireless access points have started shipping, so we anticipate having them installed within the next few weeks. This will allow us ample time to test and tweak the systems prior to our students returning for the 2016 - 2017 school year.

Our division has also been busy preparing for the deployment of the 1:1 devices, which will start in September. In order to determine the deployment order, we completed a "deployment draft" with campus principals in May. This "draft" allowed principals to pick the order they wanted to go in for device deployment. Below is the result of that "draft".

High School Device Deployment Dates
September 12th - 16th - Garland High School
September 19th - 23rd - Rowlett High School and Naaman Forest High School
September 26th - 30th - North Garland High School and Lakeview High School
October 3rd - 7th - Sachse High School and South Garland High School
October 10th - 12th - Memorial
October 13th - 17th - PAC
October 18th - 20th - AEC

In addition to planning for the device deployment, our team has been working closely with multiple vendors to ensure proper firewall, content filtering, load balancing, and system configurations are in place and tested well in advance of the deployment of iPad devices. We were fortunate to have some summer school students test the deployment steps and device settings in order to provide us feedback for improvement.

We will continue to work throughout the summer to ensure our students and teachers have the best experience possible during their deployment and use of the iPad devices.

Please visit our FAQ page for frequent updates and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

We look forward to powering the many possibilities GISD Ready 1:1 will provide the students and staff of Garland ISD.


Laurie Vondersaar
lvondersaar@garlandisd.net
Chief Information Officer
Garland Independent School District

Infrastructure upgrades for 1:1 initiative

Garland ISD's Strategic Plan calls for providing each middle school and high school student with a digital device. As a result, a 1:1 initiative was one of the projects proposed in the 2014 Garland ISD Bond.

The district is now upgrading its infrastructure in preparation of the district's 1:1 initiative. These upgrades will include a tenfold increased capacity to Wi-Fi and Local Area Network (LAN) in all GISD educational facilities and a refresh of the Metropolitan/Wide Area (MAN/WAN) network.

Laurie Vondersaar, Chief Information Officer, presented to the Board of Trustees on January 19, 2016 about the objectives and progress towards these upgrades.

View the presentation or watch item III C of the board meeting video for more details.