Modern approaches to education require modern tools for learning. The summer of 2017 was a pivitol year for the Technical Services Department because it was the year that the district and the department implemented it's 1:1 Chromebook Deployment initative on a grand scale. The priorty of the department for that summer was to unpack, inventory, configure and install over 4,000 chromebooks and over 100 storage carts throughout the district. Since then, chromebooks have become a staple in the daily responsibilities of the department, including diagnosising, troubleshooting, repairing and replacing existing devices. 

The focus of this project is to have one device for every one student so that during the school day every student has the ability to access a Chromebook in order to meet greater academic success. As of the 2019-2020 school year, this initative is 60% complete as we are proud to provide over eight thousand Chromebooks to our twelve thousand student population. As of the 2020-2021 school year, the Department was able to provide a chromebook to all students. The Department's focus now is to provide daily troubleshooting of the device, repair and or replace the device, and rotate the district's chromebook inventory with new devices that support all of the district's educational goals.

1. Classlink

Digital security is a daily and long-term focus of the Technical Services Department. While the department strives to be resolute with our network security practices, we recognize the need for balance between strong security policies and streamlined accessibility while on or off campus. 

In the Fall of 2020, the School District and the Technical Services Department partnered with ClassLink. ClassLink is a digital platform which allows the district to provide a centralized landing page with all of the different applications and systems that are used by our students and staff on a daily basis.

Additionally, ClassLink allows the district to tailor the application landing page to meet grade level and job specific application needs. Once users login to ClassLink, they are able to access the different applications by using their district provided email account and Google's Single Sign-On feature.

The Technical Services Department will be rolling out this platform to all of our users in January 2021.

2. Building Security Upgrades

In the summer of 2019, the Upper Darby School District applied for and was awared a $2.2 million security grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency 'PCCD.' As part of the district's comprehensive plan to continually provide a safe learning enviornment for all students and staff members, the award package will assist in improving the physical security of all of our buildings. It is the district's focus to purchase additional surveillance cameras, and install a building access control system at our middle schools and high school. 

Due to importance of school security and the size of the overall project, district administration is providing due diilgence to ensure that the award package is being utilized effectively and efficiently for the maximum benefit of the district.

1. Battery Backups

The Technical Services Department is often mistaken for the boy scouts due to our ability to always be prepared. In early 2020, we provided each building with a UPS battery backup for their main network rack. In the event of a disruption or loss of power to the building, the UPS would activate to maintain network functionality until the building's generator can activate or until the network system could be safely shutdown.

2. Library/Destiny System Upgrades

In the summer of 2019, the Technical Services Department provided upgrades to our internal library system. The focus of this project was to transition our library data from a physical server that was housed in the district to a cloud-based server that is now hosted by Follett. Once the transition to the cloud based server was completed, major updates were applied to operating system.

3. WiFi Security Upgrades

The Upper Darby School District recognizes that wireless internet connectivity 'WiFi' is a required tool for modern learning. In the summer of 2019, the Technical Services Department began to renovate the "behind the scenes" configuration of the district's WiFi system. The improvements to the system focus on user accountability and allowing only authorized users to connect to the network. In terms of accountability, users login to the network using their existing computer login. As a result, this allows users to not have to remember an additional password and allows for easier management by the Technical Services Department. In terms of authorized users, when a guest wants to use his/her device on the network he/she will register the device and then receive a "sponsorship" by an approved staff member. The goal of this is to reduce the number of unauthorized and unnecessay devices off of the network. 

1. Aramark Upgrades

In the summer of 2018, the Technical Serivces Department provided necessary upgrades to the Point of Sale (POS) system in the cafeteria of all of our buildings. The POS system is used on a daily basis by the Aramark food services staff to distribute breakfast and lunch to all of our students.

2. Migration to GSuite Platform

In December 2018, the Upper Darby School District staff converted from our First Class email program to Gmail. In our commitment to providing all staff and students with current and efficient technologies, we made the decision to convert to the GSuite for Education platform because of it's modern applications and features for improving the day to day operations of the district.

3. Raptor/Visitor Entry System

In the summer of 2018, the school district received notice that Raptor Technologies, the third party software company, was upgrading their system and our old equipment would not be compatible. In response to this notice, the Technical Services Department began to deploy new equipment to all of our schools.A prominent feature of this system is that all visitors must present a valid state ID which is processed against various state and federal criminal databases, including the Megan's Law Offender database.

1. Wiring Upgrades for All Buildings

The thinking behind this project was "if you build it, it will come." In the summer of 2017, the Technical Service Department facilitated the re-wiring of the network infrastructure for all of our schools. This project was crucial to the district's technology implementation plan. Today the results of this project help to support our 1:1 Chromebook initative, copiers and printers, teacher devices, various servers, security systems, among other equipment.

2. Phone System Upgrades

In the summer of 2017, the Technical Serivces Department facilitated this project which allowed anyone to dial an employee's four digital phone extension and provided all teachers with a virtual voicemail box. The result of this project allows for the communication of business matters more efficiently and to provide an additional mode of communication between parents and teachers.