Are Greenwich Schools In Digital Distress?

When Superintendent William McKersie discusses the need to improve Greenwich Public Schools' technology capabilities, he has quoted parents' description of existing technology as "the Wild West."

In response, at the Board of Education monthly meeting at Western Middle School, Greenwich High School (GHS) parent Laura Erickson addressed the board during public comment stating, "that’s okay." The former GHS PTA president added, "It’s not a bad thing to have teachers experimenting with the digital tools of their trade. They are the pioneers, and they are making it work for their students." And as Erikson pointed out, the students are "adept at using devices."

Involve The Students

As an example of student engagement in advancing the district on the technology frontier, GHS Student Government President Jonathan Mulhrad gave the board an update on the efforts of the student Digital Learning Advisory Committee. Mulhrad said the board that students concur with consultant Pearson in its recommendation that GHS teachers should incorporate the utilization of more apps into the classroom setting. Already ahead of the curve, Mulhrad revealed that the students are partnering with a GHS teacher in developing a mobile version of the student organizer used by the GHS student body.

Earlier this month, the Greenwich Board of Education discussed modifications on expanding the district's digital learning environment, as proposed by the district administration. At their March 7 work session, the board received an overview of the nearly 300-page Pearson Report which assesses the district's digital capabilities and makes recommendations for the future.

At the board's March 21 meeting, a Digital Learning Plan Update was presented. However, as Hamilton Avenue School PTA President Peter Bernstein said during the public comment, "the technology plan that was up for discussion tonight was not on the board's website last night. It's a bit hard to comment on something that wasn't made publicly available in advance."

The update, however, was only a precursor to the revised Digital Learning Plan which is scheduled to be presented at the April 4 work session at Havemeyer. The addendum, which will be scheduled for a board vote, is to include:

1. Additional evidence on the value-add of Digital Learning for Student Success: results of the survey conducted of current status of digital learning in selected CT districts and analysis of SBAC requirements and issues.
2. Importance of immediate engagement of External Partner (via a request for proposal (RFP)
3. Importance of immediate attention to District-Wide Infrastructure (via RFPs)
4. Extended Phase 1 of School Level Implementation – To be finalized with External Partner
5. Revised Budget Projections for Multi-Year Implementation 

Analysis Paralysis

Per the update, the administration as been "refining" the plan and "gathering additional information," which includes a "comparative analysis" of 13 Connecticut school districts. McKersie said that based on the initial results of the effort, it revealed even more "sobering news" for Greenwich in terms of being "further behind." The districts contacted have all already taken steps with "partial plans and pilots" being implemented.

However, during the public comments, Erickson warned that such an effort "might lead to analysis paralysis.” Instead, suggested Erickson, "there are tremendous resources right here in our own district that we need to harvest."

With the Jan. 31 infrastructure fix improving connectivity, confirmed even by the Muhlrad during the GHS Student Government comments, is there an internal approach for Greenwich to take without utilizing an outside consultant? Erickson believes that the district "has the ability to drive the model for Greenwich schools." Further, she advised "we’re going to have to come up with an internal process that can evolve and keep pace because we all know technology changes continuously. Ours might be a hybrid model, but it will be “owned” by us."