BTSD Administrator Outlines ‘State-Of-The-Art’ Technology In New Schools

The work to make Bristol Township’s three new elementary schools “state-of-the-art” is underway and under budget.

Bristol Township School District Director of Technology Robert Pfau is leading the charge to outfit the three new schools – two of which are slated to open to some students in January 2016 – with the latest technology that will help in the education process and save the cash-strapped district money.

Despite rumors that the three new 1,300-student buildings will not have computers for students in each classroom, Pfau told the school board last month that each of the new buildings will have three new computer labs, up to seven computers in each classroom and teacher workstations. He added that the all-new computers will be energy efficient and internet connected.

Pfau said internet connectivity for the new schools will be powered by the latest HP network switches that will include battery backups. In addition, Aruba wireless access points will provide WiFi access throughout the three new buildings.

“The system will handle all current and foreseeable needs,” Pfau said.

The school board seemed excited when Pfau announced every classroom in the new buildings would feature Espson Smart Link projectors. Pfau and Visual Sound account manager Claudia Figelman demonstrated the technology that will allow teachers and students to interact with the projections.

The system will be hooked up to the teacher’s computer and project onto a white board, similar to the SmartBoards that the district uses in some classrooms. The image with the Epson projectors will be 87 inches and can go up to 100 inches.

The biggest difference: the Epson system doesn’t require special pens for interaction.

Figelman noted the Epson platform allows for the district to use SmartBoard software and that from other competitors on its system.

Pfau said the new system will have cost savings because his technology staff can power down projectors if teachers forget and the replacement bulbs are roughly $40 cheaper than SmartBoard bulbs.

While the new projectors come with a three-year warranty, the projectors are expected to last for five to seven years, Figelman said.

The 110 new projectors are expected to be installed by district staff by the time Mill Creek Elementary School (formerly Ralph W. Emerson Elementary School) on Mill Creek Road and Brookwood Elementary School (formerly James Buchanan Elementary School) on Haines Road open in January.

The total amount budgeted for technology in the new schools is $600,000. Pfau said he expects to come in under budget.