Replacement Technology Levy 2020

Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations

October 28, 2019

Introduction

In February 2014, the Auburn community supported a $22 million technology levy. The collection of these resources from 2015  - 2020 enabled the implementation of a wireless network throughout all schools; upgrades in infrastructure to increase tenfold the district’s connection to the Internet; 1:1 allocation of a Chromebook laptop device for each student grades 2 - 12, with a take-home program in secondary schools (K-1 classrooms are 2:1); maintenance of PC or Mac computer labs in all schools and special program areas including Career and Technical Education; installation of additional technology equipment in growth facilities; and front entry security systems in all schools.

With the expiration of the 2014 levy on the horizon, a Tech Levy Ad Hoc Committee was convened to assess how to maintain and build on the accomplishments of these efforts. After reviewing progress over the last levy, considering input from students and staff, the Committee proposes a $35 million six-year levy. Additional resources are aimed at modernizing classrooms, fostering innovation, providing new resources for students with disabilities, and providing the technical and instructional support needed for success.

Ad Hoc Process

An ad hoc committee of 29 stakeholders convened June 5, June 19, August 15, and September 17. Parents, community leaders, teachers, classified support staff, and school and district administrators served on the committee. (See roster.)

In the opening meeting, the group grounded its work in a review of 2014 Technology Levy accomplishments and the status of ASD’s current technology infrastructure. Washington State guidelines for allowable expenditures through local capital levies were also reviewed. Finally, the team initiated consideration of the goals that should drive a replacement levy.

Continuing their work in June, the Ad Hoc Committee reviewed May 2019 input from the District Technology Advisory Committee and results of a May/June district survey of staff and students. The Committee agreed the following goals will guide the development of the next levy:

• Purpose: Enable students to be successful and competitive in a globally connected society, emphasizing digital citizenship and 21st-century skills.
• Maintenance: Maintain current levels of student 1:1 access and infrastructure while planning for student enrollment growth and emerging technologies.
• Expansion: Expand 1:1 access K-12 (increasing kindergarten and grade 1 to 1:1) and ensure technology responds to the needs of inclusive classrooms.
• Innovation: Provide new tools and support for educators to transform student experiences and meet student needs within and across disciplines.
• Computer science: Grow the K-12 computer science pathway through the provision of appropriate hardware resources, support, staffing, and training.
• Capacity: Provide training and support to educators to provide instruction that prepares students for success beyond graduation, with particular attention to digital citizenship, media literacy, and cultural competence.

Tax rates and projections were considered at the second June meeting, along with potential items to be considered if the levy were to be expanded. Items for consideration came from a list of requests stakeholders have articulated over the last several years, ideas of the District Technology Advisory Committee, input from school and district administrators, and discussion of the Ad Hoc Committee. Prior to the August meeting, Ad Hoc members and school principals were asked to individually prioritize 15 levy purchase considerations based on the agreed goals.

Prioritization input from Ad Hoc members and principals was closely aligned. Ratings clustered around a common top seven and bottom four, with some variance around those items prioritized at a middle value. (See results.) Following a review of levy rates and impacts, the Committee identified seven potential areas for levy additions in 2020. As the 2019-20 school year opened, stakeholders more broadly were invited to respond through an online survey to the six levy goals and seven potential investment areas. (Available in English and Spanish.)

771 stakeholders provided feedback for the Tech Levy Ad Hoc Committee’s consideration in  September. Preparing students for their futures (purpose), providing new tools to transform learning (innovation), and providing training and support to educators emerged (capacity) as the top three priorities in this group. While the seven final expenditure areas under consideration all received positive support, top interests centered around providing specialized learning tools for students with disabilities, modernizing classroom projection systems, and funding training for staff who work with students (certificated and classified). Students, however, ranked additional, flexible funds for school innovation as their top priority.  (See all results and comments.) With this feedback, the Ad Hoc Committee finalized a recommendation for the Technology Replacement Levy amount and a corresponding draft spending plan.

All meeting agendas and public materials may be found at the Tech Levy 2020 website.

Decision Making

The Ad Hoc Committee used the consensus model for decision making. The group came to consensus on priority goals and final recommendations on the levy amount and content. Consensus was reached when: All points of view had been heard; the will of the group was obvious/evident even to those who oppose it; and everyone agreed to support and live with the decision made.

Stakeholder Input

The voices of stakeholders beyond the Ad Hoc Committee were considered in several ways. At the outset, the group reviewed survey results from the 2017-18 end-of-year technology survey completed by 7,035 students and 1,586 staff. Of particular notice was the need to build capacity in certificated and classified instructional staff so they can truly use technology in transformational ways. Digital citizenship, media literacy, and cultural responsiveness were identified as needs that demand more professional learning from educators. To prioritize planned expenditures for a new levy, all principals represented their schools in rating expenditures under consideration. Finally, an open survey announced through regular district communication processes allowed a variety of stakeholders to respond individually to prioritize goals and needs. Respondents included 228 parents, 389 students, 134 instructional staff, and 20 support staff.

Recommendations

The Technology Levy 2020 Ad Hoc recommends to the Auburn School District Board of Directors a six-year replacement technology levy in the amount of $35 million. Projected impacts to taxpayers suggest that while the technology levy rates increase by approximately six cents per $1,000 assessed valuation, the projected overall local tax rate impact remains flat and lower than any year since 2010, with the exception of 2019. (In 2019, local levy authority was reduced based on legislative action.) Maintaining a level total tax rate was important to Committee members.

Levy rates per $1,000 assessed valuation.

The proposed levy tax rate compares with neighboring districts in this way:

* proposed

** Not implementing a 1:1 technology program

Continued Expenditures

In September 2014, the school year in which the previous levy began, just over 15,000 students were enrolled in the Auburn School District. Today we serve just over 17,000, having grown 13% in just five years. A replacement technology levy will maintain the following activities in the amounts necessary to accommodate this increased enrollment and the addition of two elementary schools in the coming years:

• Maintenance and upgrades of a wireless network throughout all schools
• Replacement and upgrades of technology infrastructure to support 10G connectivity within all schools and a disaster recovery plan
• Maintenance of the 1:1 allocation of Chromebooks for teachers and grades 2 - 12 students, with a take-home program in secondary schools
• Mobile computer science labs for elementary schools
• Regular replacement (every five years) of computer lab spaces in all school libraries and special program areas including Career and Technical Education
• Replacement of certificated and office staff PCs every five years, with increased availability for classified instructional staff (para educators)
• Annual allocations to schools to purchase or replace needed peripheral devices
• Scheduled replacement of copy machines for all schools
• Installation of technology equipment in growth facilities
• Replacement and upgrade of security surveillance and IP phone for all facilities
• A professional-technical staff member to lead security surveillance implementation

Additions

Increased levy revenue allows the Auburn School District to provide the following additional resources for staff and students:

• More specialized devices to meet the communication and learning needs of students with disabilities
• Modernization of all classrooms to upgrade projection systems to the standards of our new schools
• Special project funds to support innovation across schools to serve students in new and improved ways
• Annual professional development for teachers and support staff who work directly with students
• Additional Chromebooks to bring all K-1 classes to a 1:1 student to device ratio
• Small sets of Chromebooks to be used in preschool classrooms at stations to support targeted learning goals
• Additional technical support personnel to provide service and replace technology across buildings
• Additional instructional staff to support teachers and classified instructional staff as they learn to integrate technology in classrooms in support of subject-matter learning, computer science education, digital citizenship, media literacy, and the 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity

Interests of Emphasis

The focus of a capital levy is purchase  of replacement and initial equipment and needed supports to effectively employ the resources. In getting to the recommended expenditures listed here, other interests arose. As technology integration proceeds in Auburn School District, the Committee urges the District to:

• Ensure digital wellness is part of digital citizenship education for students, families, and educators, with particular attention to screen time.
• Ensure instruction reflects a balance of offline and online activities in the classroom, engaging technology where it most impacts learning.
• Assist educators in using electronic tools to communicate students’ progress in learning to families.
• Expand its K-12 computer science pathway.
• Support a culture of innovation, at the system level and for individual schools.

Conclusion

Auburn School District’s Electronic Resources Policy 2022 reminds us:

The Auburn Board of Directors recognizes that an effective public education system develops students who are globally aware, civically engaged, and capable of managing their lives and careers. The board also believes that students need to be proficient users of information, media, and technology to succeed in a digital world.

Therefore, the Auburn district will use electronic resources as a powerful and compelling means for students to learn core subjects and applied skills in relevant and rigorous ways. It is the district’s goal to provide students with rich and ample opportunities to use technology for important purposes in schools just as individuals in workplaces and other real-life settings. The district’s technology will enable educators and students to communicate, learn, share, collaborate and create, to think and solve problems, to manage their work and to take ownership of their lives.

The recommendations of the Tech Levy 2020 Ad Hoc Committee are made to support the implementation of these ideas across all schools, grade levels, and programs.