Current Projects

Current projects are guided by the 2008-2013 District Strategic Plan. Click the links below for more information. You may also be interested in reading about our progress reports of strategic activities over the previous five years. For more information on current projects, check out our Technology Services News Updates!

  • Technology Services Projects-at-a-Glance
    Provides a high-level view of our current projects and will be updated whenever adjustments are made to projected timelines or new projects are added.

  • Software Inventories / Audits (in conjunction with Technology Bond Deployments and Active Directory Migration)
    Periodic software inventories / audits are essential when it comes to following the letter of the law and software licensing agreements. For this reason, software inventories / audits are conducted by Technology Services in conjunction with District initiatives such as Campus Technology Bond Deployments and the Active Directory (AD) Migration.
    Technology Services begins preparation work with campus and District staff at least 6 weeks before deployments and AD migration is scheduled to begin.
    See also: "Software for Technology Re-Deployments and the AD Migration" Presentation, AD Schedule, Technology Bond Deployment Schedule
  • Active Directory (AD) Migration
    A project is underway to transition all District computers (and computer users) from a Novell network environment to a Windows network environment. Our Microsoft Active Directory Services implementation - or "AD" for short - will improve performance and efficiencies for users and network administrators. For example, once on AD, employees will be able to access their network files (home directory and shared directories) remotely via the Internet. As another example, network administrators will be better able to deploy software and software updates remotely to computers District-wide across the network. The AD project is slated to be complete by June 2009 (barring unforeseen circumstances). See also: AD Schedule, "Enhancing Network Services and Efficiencies" Presentation

  • Campus Technology Deployments
    Based upon NISD’s six year replacement cycle for technology hardware, new computers are deployed to campuses all through the year. In addition, ceiling-mounted digital projectors are being added to all NISD classrooms. Funding is provided by the Technology Bond Program.
    See also: Technology Bond Deployment Schedule , Technology Bond Standards for Campuses , Projector Installation Schedule
  • Digital Media Fair
    The 2008-09 Digital Media Fair will soon be underway and accepting entries for the prestigious seventh annual "Digi Awards" to be held in the spring! Students from across the District and across all grade levels will be eligible to submit work in nearly 100 different categories, connected to school studies and learning. Student projects will be judged on their content, originality, purpose, age-appropriate complexity, graphic design, technical quality, copyright compliance, and grammar and spelling (if applicable). Trophies and medals will be awarded to recognize and celebrate students' work in the creation of digital media products
    (video animation, digital graphics, web publishing, desktop publishing, etc.).

  • Wireless for All Campuses
    Northside ISD will become the largest school district in the state to go completely wireless, giving students, teachers, and staff access to the Internet anywhere and any time at all campuses. Internet coverage and NISD network access will be available throughout all campuses, including classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and outdoor common areas to support a wide variety of instructional and administrative applications. The installation will be complete by the end of 2008. Read all about it in Northside Schools are Going Wireless (San Antonio Express-News, June 5, 2007). See also: Installation Schedule, Frequently Asked Questions

  • Parent Connection
    NISD's popular Parent Connection (http://www.nisd.net/parentconnection ) continues to expand its offerings of information for parents! All parents of students in grades one through twelve have real-time online access to:
    • their child's daily grades and attendance records for the current school year, directly from teachers' gradebooks
    • their child's longitudinal enrollment and academic data, directly from the District Curriculum Management System (school enrollment, total days absent, course enrollment and teachers, course credits and cycle grades, TAKS and other standardized assessment results)
    • important news and announcements especially for parents
    • current-year discipline data
    • parents at some campuses can make online cafeteria payments, with all campuses to be phased in as soon as possible
  • Data Warehouse (intranet only)
    The acquisition and implementation of a data warehouse has been identified as a high priority need to support data-driven decision-making throughout the Northside Independent School District. The project planning team includes members from all across the district who meet weekly, with the expectation of implementing the data warehouse in 2008-09.

  • Business/HR Information Management System (intranet only)
    The acquisition and implementation of a robust Business/HR System will provide school and district administrators and support staff with the ability to easily access and manage both summary and detailed fiscal and employee information. The project planning team includes members from all across the district who meet weekly, with the expectation of implementing the new system in 2008-09.

  • One-to-One Wireless Computing at Business Careers High School
    The district's first wireless one-to-one computing environment was implemented in August 2006 at Business Careers High School (BCHS). This initiative provides a wireless laptop computer to all BCHS students and staff and offers them significantly increased access to a wide range of software, electronic documents, the Internet, and other digital resources for superior teaching and learning.

    Read all about it in NISD News (January 20, 2006) and Some Schools Providing Laptops (San Antonio Express-News, June 4, 2007).
    See also:
    First Year Program Evaluation Presentation, Program Evaluation Report

  • Digital Streaming Video-on-Demand
    The District has implemented UnitedStreaming, a digital video-on-demand product from Discovery Education. This research-based instructional resource includes over 5,000 full length educational videos, 50,000 video content clips, 28,000 images, and a variety of teacher materials. All media and materials are aligned to TEKS, updated daily, and delivered to the computer desktop (video may be downloaded or "streamed" live). Not only can this content be used by all NISD educators, but it can also be used by students in the creation of their own digital media connected to their learning. Professional development is ongoing for all teachers, campus technologists, librarians, and administrators.

  • Integrated Security Management System (ISMS)
    The ISMS is a modular system that operates over the Northside Wide Area Network and provides digital video surveillance, access control, alarm monitoring, and badging identification. The system was implemented at all high schools during the 2005-06 school year. All middle schools will be completed by late fall 2008. The purchase of an ISMS was identified as a high-priority need to support the District Strategic Improvement Plan goals for Safe and Secure Schools, Technology, and Facilities.
    See also: Installation Schedule
  • Cafeteria Point-of-Sale System
    The Child Nutrition and Technology Services departments piloted a Point-of-Sale (POS) system in April in school cafeterias to replace the current food line terminal /mainframe system. This new system offers several enhanced services and efficiencies to NISD students, staff, and parents. All other schools will be added during the next year.

  • Technology Core Competencies for All Employees (intranet only)
    The District believes that effective use of technology is critical throughout the organization to meet legal requirements and facilitate improved teaching and learning; productivity and professional practice; and support, management, and operations of the District. The NISD Technology Core Competencies for All Employees were presented to the Board of Trustees on September 28, 2004. The competencies are delineated for four employee groups: Teachers, Campus Administrators, District Administrators, Classified and Auxiliary.

  • NISD Technology Integration Project Planning & Assessment (TIPPA) (intranet only)
    The TIPPA website materials will assist classroom teachers in effectively planning, delivering and evaluating technology-infused projects which will engage and challenge students in targeted academic objectives. The TIPPA rubric takes into account cognitive theories and differentiated instruction, and identifies five key components in developing and assessing technology-infused lessons to support student learning: Curricular Connections, Technology Standards, Student Engagement, Student Challenge, Student Assessment.

  • Q.U.A.D. (Quality, Usable, Accurate Data) (intranet only)
    In a continuing effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of data in student and administrative information systems that guide decision-making, Technology Services is once again coordinating Q.U.A.D. workshops! Campus staff members who are responsible for data entry into Region 20 (attendance secretaries, registrars, data processors/grade reporting secretaries, counseling secretary, etc.) should attend these workshops, some of which are required for certain employee groups. Q.U.A.D. Workshops will be held in August, October, February, and April.


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