The technology curriculum at Blairsville-Saltsburg School District promotes the progressive development of technology skills. We educate students with the goal of producing flexible lifelong learners through increasing proficiency with an understanding of the underlying principles of current technology tools.

Our technology program has a 2 to 1 ratio of students to computers in grades K-12. Each classroom is equipped with computers complete with internet access. At least one computer lab with 24 or more units is housed in each school for general use. In addition, there are 12 computers in each library for student use. Middle/high schools also have computer labs for business courses, CADD courses, wireless mobile laptop labs, and specialty mathematics labs. Our students are challenged to learn computer technology skills that are embedded and integrated into the curriculum. Every elementary student has a class in the computer lab at least one period a week and continuing use of computers is reinforced in classroom activities. Middle school students learn specific computer applications with related objectives, which are also integrated into Science, Math, English, and Social Studies curriculum. High school students take a required computer literacy course in ninth grade and are offered a variety of technology electives through grade 12. Every middle and high school classroom is equipped with an LCD projector and several have electronic whiteboards that provide more interactive and engaging learning activities.

A number of high quality educational software programs are utilized as resources by teachers and students to meet the needs of diverse learners. Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor and TI Navigator for graphic calculators for high school math; Accelerated Reader, STARReader, Kurzweil, Lexia, and Read 180 to enhance reading instruction; Type to Learn to develop keyboarding skills in elementary grades; and AutoDesk in CADD labs are a few that are used. In addition, teachers and students have a number of educational online data resources which include Worldbook Online, Nettrekker and PowerLibrary provided to the district for research. Our libraries are automated with Destiny software for inventory, checkout, book requests, searching, and usage reports.

BSSD is part of a regional consortium of school districts and intermediate units that has created the physical infrastructure of a high-speed wide area network through an Act 183 grant. This will allow our students to have access to a rich variety of internet-based educational resources that were previously not accessible such as Discovery Learning video libraries, Internet 2, and webcasting. Schools in the consortium will be able to connect to each other by using 100Mb ethernet, allowing more varied and direct collaboration of stakeholders to communicate and share resources over the network. Each consortium member district has also received video conferencing equipment which was recently used by Blairsville and Saltsburg elementary and middle school students to participate in NASA delivered eMissions simulations.

Beginning in the spring of 2008, BSSD purchased a new student information system. Data was converted from the previous multiple databases to one new central database. Student records, scheduling, attendance, grades, transcripts, and report cards are all managed in Prosoft. Partner software for classroom record management was also purchased to provide tools for teachers to track student academic progress. Edline provides a web portal for teachers to create webpages used to communicate information to students and parents such as student progress reports, class resources, homework assignments, and activity calendars. Teachers also have access to an online gradebook called Gradequick which allows them to record student class performance, attendance, seating charts, and generate progress reports for their Edline webpages and record lesson plans. The Edline/Gradequick products are currently implemented in grades 6-12. Students and parents have access to personal accounts for viewing information posted on the teacher Edline pages. Elementary teachers will soon receive training to use these tools for the spring of 2009.

In addition to teacher-generated formative assessments, teachers have access to standards based assessments such as PSSA results, DRA scores, and 4Sight testing data through online databases to sort, search, and analyze data that can influence educational planning. Teachers can plan, prepare, and deliver educational activities to meet the needs of individual students using digitally accessible data.

BSSD has also committed to the implementation of wireless technology. The wireless access is available in all areas of each district building. Classrooms For the Future grants and district resources have been used to purchase and implement portable laptop computer labs. Together with newer, faster, network switches, routers, and servers and complementary software, digital communications are better designed to meet students at the point of need and generate engaging teachable moments to provide richer learning experiences.

As we continue to move forward in the use of technology, BSSD is actively pursuing emerging technlogies to enhance data acquisition, storing, reporting, and analysis to better understand and meet the needs of our students. Our goal is to connect all stakeholders and provide resources for making data-driven decisions to positively impact student learning and prepare them for the 21st century.

BSSD maintains an acceptable use policy that conforms to the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). A secure firewall and internet filtering software are used to protect the district network and it's users from intentional intruders to provide a safe and secure educational environment.    BSSD Computer Use Policy