OVERVIEW

Smart SchoolsThe Smart Schools Bond Act was passed in the 2014-15 Enacted Budget and approved by the voters in a statewide referendum held during the 2014 General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. The Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) 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. The SSBA requires that a Review Board review and approve districts’ Smart Schools Investment Plans before any funds may be made available for the program.

All District plans approved by the school board and submitted to the New York State Education Department must meet the required elements including demonstrating students’ needs, minimal speed requirements for internet connectivity, professional development, technical support, and sustainability. As part of the process, districts are required to submit a District Instructional Technology Plan survey in compliance with the Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulation. The Instructional Technology Plan survey outlines the current and future plans of the district as it relates to infrastructure, devices, staffing, and professional development to improve teaching and learning. The Instructional Technology plan was approved by New York State Education Department in September 2015.

The District wants to ensure all teachers and students have wireless access when they need it. The District closely monitors and manages network traffic. In order to meet usage demands with the appropriate level of wireless access, every classroom will have at least one WAP and larger instructional spaces will be outfitted with multiple WAPS.

District Instructional Technology Plan

The Smart Schools Bond investment will allow us to expand learning opportunities for all our students beyond the four walls of a school building. This funding is directly linked to and supports our District Instructional Technology Plan. Some of the major initiatives in our Technology Plan are:

• Upgrading of infrastructure/network to support High Speed Internet Access and district devices wireless and connected
• Upgrading/replacement of wiring infrastructure district-wide
• Upgrading/Addition of wireless access points to support mobile devices.
• Creation of Security/entrances
• UPS Battery Backup – NOC (Network Operation Center)

Mattituck Cutchogue Union Free School District has been allocated $273,511.00. The Board of Education held a public hearing on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 7:30 AM in the high school auditorium on the Preliminary Smart Schools Investment Plan.

The amended Smart Schools plan for August 2021 will support the 1:1 initiative for Grades 2 - 12.