July 2004 — SETDA
Print this articleClick here to receive your FREE subscription to T.H.E. Journal
West Virginia: Technology Leadership at the District Level: A Look at the Monongalia County School District
As the seventh largest district in student population in West Virginia, Monongalia County has the good fortune of housing the main campus of the biggest university in the state, West Virginia University. This major university collaborates with the community and Monongalia County schools to provide the high expectations and forward thinkers who promote the integration of technology in the K-12 public school arena. Unfortunately, due to the decline of the coal industry and the lack of major corporations, Monongalia County and West Virginia have limited financial resources compared to highly affluent districts across the country. Nevertheless, even with significant economic pressures, the citizens of Monongalia County passed a local levy that allocates about $1 million per year to technology. By leveraging these local funds with federal E-Rate funding, the school district is able to fuse its local funding resources with state funds, which are geared to specific technology initiatives. In addition, the local levy funds allow the school system to maximize local funding by leveraging numerous grant opportunities.
Focus on Technology
Counties in West Virginia also profited from the leadership of a forward-thinking Legislature and governor. In 1989, the state of West Virginia passed the initial legislation which provided for a turnkey technology solution that would begin the infusion of technology throughout the state's schools. With the emphasis on equity in funding throughout the state, the statewide technology initiatives (West Virginia SUCCESS, Basic Skills/Computer Education, and Telecommunications/Technology) and the county levy funds serve as the foundation of the county's technology implementation. Monongalia County has received more than $6 million in state funding to provide for infrastructure, computers, software and professional development. These state funds, coupled with federal E-Rate discounts, federal TLCF (Technology Literacy Challenge Fund)and EETT (Enhancing Education Through Technology) funds, and county levy funds, have propelled the county's ability to provide for technology integration to improve student achievement. Through the leadership of the county technology coordinator, the securing of competitive and formula grants has provided additional technology funding. For example, during the past two years, Monongalia County has received two EETT competitive grants administered by the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Technology. These grants, along with other state and local grants, have allowed the county and schools to accelerate meeting our state, district and school technology vision.
Fortunately, as visionary leaders, the Monongalia County Board of Education, the county superintendent and the community strongly support initiatives pertaining to technology. They also encourage the integration of technology as a seamless instructional component. The county's focus on technology includes the following three elements:
- An organizational chart in which the technology coordinator reports directly to the superintendent;
- A districtwide directive to the county coordinator to standardize hardware and software; and
- The leadership directive that the technology environment will provide equal access for all students.
