Sept+4,+2007+Special+Meeting

HHS Technology Committee Emergency Meeting to Discuss Podnet Wireless Network Issues Tuesday, September 4, 2007 2:45-3:30 – ILC Computer Lab Members present: Corey Brueckner, Steve Wolf, Catherine Bratton, Mike Mahoney, Angie Clark, Mert Martens, Linda Parry, Kent Sauls, Diane Frank, and Heidi Dudley The Podnet will be turned on at Heritage on Friday, September 21st, 2007. District procedures/positions were handed out and discussed. How will our school handle different issues that relate to our school specifically? For instance, cell phones in the classroom? What devices will we support and what will we not support?
 * __ Issues Involved in Opening the Podnet Wireless Network at Heritage: __**
 * Power Issues: the committee felt that we should not be responsible for powering student devices. Student owned devices can not be left in classrooms or other places in the school to charge; we can not be responsible for these items. Committee felt the policy should be: “We can not as a school provide power for you- bring your device fully charged.” It was decided that we should wait and see how this plays out in the years to come to see if it becomes an issue.
 * Procedure/Abuse Issues: What should be the procedure for students who aren’t following the rules? The committee thought there could be levels of procedures for this. 1. Warning- close the device and/or put it away. 2. Call home and inform parent. Possibly have device sit at home for a period. 3. Document and/or confiscate the device. Take the MAC address of the device off the Podnet and let the student know that he will have no available usage of the device for the rest of the semester. Revisit the situation after the semester is over. 4. Confiscate, inform home, if abuse continues the device is longer welcome here.
 * Network Issues: Heidi handed out a map showing the placement of all of the wireless access points in the building. She explained that each access point can only handle only so many devices. If this becomes a problem as more wireless devices are used in the building, we may need to add more access points. There are also some “dead spots” in the building (places where the wireless can’t be accessed). Who is responsible for adding access points (the school, the district)?
 * Responsibility Issues: Responsibility should lie with the student and their parents. Students need to know that we are not the tech support for whatever devices they bring in. If a student can’t access the wireless on their device, we do not support that.
 * Vista Issues: Students need to be responsible not only for their devices but also for their software and make sure any files they turn in are saved in a compatible format (one that will open with XP and Office 2003).