The technology curriculum at Blairsville-Saltsburg School District promotes the progressive development of technology skills. We educate students with the goal of producing flexible lifelong learners through increasing proficiency with an understanding of the underlying principles of current technology tools.

Our technology program has a 2.2 to 1 ratio of students to computers in grades K-12. Each classroom is equipped with computers complete with internet access. At least one computer lab with 24 or more units is housed in each school for general use. In addition, there are 12 computers in each library for student use. Middle/high schools also have computer labs for business courses, CADD courses, wireless mobile laptop labs, and specialty mathematics labs. Our students are challenged with learning computer technology skills that are embedded and integrated into the curriculum. Every elementary student has a class in the computer lab at least one period a week and continuing use of computers is reinforced in classroom activities. Middle school students learn specific computer applications with related objectives, which are also integrated into Science, Math, English, and Social Studies curriculum. High school students take a required computer literacy course in ninth grade and are offered a variety of technology electives through grade 12. Every middle and high school classroom is equipped with an LCD projector and several have electronic whiteboards that provide more interactive and engaging learning activities.

A number of high quality educational software programs are utilized as resources by teachers and students to meet the needs of diverse learners. Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor for high school math, Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Math, STARReader, Kurzweil and Lexia for challenged readers, Type to Learn to develop keyboarding skills, TI Navigator for graphic calculators, AutoDesk in CADD labs are a few that are used. In addition, teachers and students have a number of educational online resources which include Worldbook Online, Nettrekker and PowerLibrary provided to the district for research.

BSSD is part of a regional consortium of school districts and intermediate units that are creating the physical infrastructure of a high-speed wide area network. This will allow our students to have access to a rich variety of educational resources that were not available previously. They will be able to connect schools to each other by use of the internet and Internet2 using faster connectivity, but also allowing more varied and direct collaboration of stakeholders to communicate and share resources over the network. BSSD has recently completed a network overhaul to update computers, servers, operating systems, and software allowing us to utilize new educational tools and resources such as electronic whiteboards, podcasting, streaming video, and immediate response systems.

BSSD also has committed to the implementation of wireless technology and a new student management system. The wireless access will be available in all areas of each district building shortly. The district is continuing their evaluation process of selecting a software package. This implementation will be completed in the next several months and will allow parents, students and teachers access to grades, lunch balances, homework assignments, and lesson plans.

As we continue to move forward in the use of technology, BSSD is actively pursuing new avenues to enhance data acquisition, storing, reporting, and analysis to better understand and meet the needs of our students. Our goal is to connect all stakeholders and provide resources for making data-driven decisions to positively impact student learning and prepare them for the 21st century.

BSSD Computer Use Policy