Community Corner

A Lesson in Technological Advancements

The Board of Education and district administrators take time during the first day of school to thank information technology staff Tuesday for efforts in upgrading technology district-wide over the summer.

Technological advancements and understanding how to use the latest tools are an important aspect of today’s public school education. Having the hand-on opportunity to use and learn the latest technologies can give students a leg up after graduating.

Southington schools have implemented several new technologies over the summer to provide this advantage for students said School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. Tuesday, thanks in part to the dedication of a talented team of information technology staff throughout the district.

“It’s great to have all these new tools, but I don’t think you can say enough to underscore the importance of having great leaders in our technology departments throughout the district,” Erardi said. “Great leaders make great followers and it has us set up well for the 2011-12 school year.”

That’s why Erardi, who visited all 12 of the town’s public schools during the first day on Tuesday, still made time to host a lunch at the to say thank you to technology staff.

With the help of grants, boosters and parent-teacher organizations throughout the community, the district received funding for a variety of new tools that were installed throughout the summer.

Without the dedication of technology department staff, however, Erardi said the schools would never have received the funding or had the new tools in place for when children returned to the classroom.

Karen Veilleux, director of technology for Southington Schools, said Tuesday that in addition to the usual tasks to upgrade existing equipment, the district also worked to install a variety of new equipment over the summer that is already in use.

“It really amazes me the amount of work this staff has accomplished and it’s important to take a moment to show them we appreciate what they do each and every day,” Veilleux said.

Southington implemented the following new technology over the summer:

  • PowerSchool version 7 upgrade
  • All homeroom computers were replaced
  • New digital world language lab
  • Over 100 n-Computing “thin client” computers installed in high school/middle school libraries
  • New middle school servers
  • All technology at and elementary schools (including servers, teacher laptops)
  • Website redesign, tentatively scheduled for a Sept. 9 launch
  • Fiber infrastructure completed between three remaining schools
  • An iPad cart at

On top of all this work, Board of Education Vice-Chairwoman Terri Carmody said the staff has remained patient as “teacher like myself” constantly sought help and always found the time to provide it.

“They never once got upset, never questioned us or our competence no matter how much help we needed,” Carmody said.


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