Advances in technology good for education
For school district's 'ET' team, the future is now
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Getting classrooms up to speed for the demands of 21stcentury technology takes more than new computers, high-tech gadgets and other hardware.

It takes proper leaders.

As director of educational technology at the Las Virgenes Unified School District, Trish Paulson is on the front line of the effort to integrate technology into LVUSD classrooms.

Paulson is the leader of the district's "ET" (EdTech) geek squad, a fivemember team including teachers and a clerk, that is on a mission to revitalize education through the use of technology.

On the heels of a $128-million bond measure passed in 2006, the district purchased new computers, high-tech projectors and other electronics for teachers and classrooms. The four cities served by the Las Virgenes District- Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village- paid for teacher training on the equipment.

Paulson, who joined the school district in September, presented her first report to the board of education at a Jan. 22 meeting. She defined educational technology as the "use of technology to support the learning process."

Paulson introduced her team to board members. Jeanne Sbardellati will serve as a teacher on special assignment for elementary schools, while Mary Hamre will fill the role for secondary schools. Linda Gall is the team's student data specialist. Gall will manage all information and tracking systems and will implement online report cards. In charge of clerical work is Renee Scholes.

The ET team is trying to expand the use of technology for student data analysis, which will enable teachers to track student progress more effectively from grade to grade and will help teachers create uniform websites for more effective communication with parents and students. Paulson also expects to expand the use of interactive, Web-based lesson plans by teachers.

"Teachers are very excited about using technology," Paulson said.

Her team is offering clinics at each school twice a week, including one-on-one help within the classrooms. Paulson said her ET team would provide teacher support "anywhere, any time."

Since the new equipment was purchased, 544 teachers have received training. The final group of 39 teachers began training on Feb. 14.

In the meantime, district, school and teacher websites are being updated. Yerba Buena Elementary School was used as an example of a modern website able to offer a video tour of the school, a look at cafeteria menus and even a translation device that displays information in several languages, including Spanish, French, German, Greek, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic.

"There's going to be a revolution on how websites are put together," school board president Cindy Iser said.

Paulson also discussed plans to implement a program called "Moodle," which will be a vehicle for teachers to create interactive websites. She said Moodle is being developed as a "repository of resources that will be available 24/7 via the net." year, including the start of construction for the new civic center. The building's grand opening is planned for July 12, 2008 and Bozajian said the $41million, 27,000square-foot facility will be completed on time and under budget, which drew applause from the audience.

The city's new historic preservation ordinance, Calabasas Trails Master Plan and the General Plan update were acknowledged as steps forward, as was the acquisition of King Gillette Ranch and the city's ban on polystyrene and secondhand smoke.

Bozajian said that according to a recent survey, the three most important issues to Calabasas residents are traffic (31 percent), schools (21 percent) and growth, planning and development (15 percent).

Of the roughly 23,000 residents of the city, about 12,700 are voters. The median home price in Calabasas, Bozajian said, is nearly $1.3 million, while the average price is $1.6 million.

He said about 38 percent of the land within Calabasas city limits is designated as open space, which inspired cheers from the overflow crowd.

During the coming year Mary Sue Maurer will serve her first term as the mayor of the city. Maurer is expected to be appointed when Bozajian's term expires next month.