Strategy Analysis

The Franklin Regional School District (FRSD) Technology Department has

enjoyed tremendous success and growth in recent years. However, with the constantly

changing nature of technology, the department continually needs to meet new demands in

order to ensure that students receive the best education possible.

An evaluation of internal and external factors demonstrated which objectives and

strategies would be useful for the FRSD Technology Department to pursue in order to

take advantage of its strengths and opportunities, while minimizing its threats and

weaknesses. The greatest opportunity for the FRSD Technology Department is that the

School Board is willing to support the use of technology in education. The department

can take advantage of this fact when attempting to further advance the use of technology

at Franklin Regional. The greatest threat to the department is that the public is

demanding lower tax rates. The district had difficulty passing a budget that did not

include a tax hike for 2002-03, and this challenge will continue. As long as funding is

limited, the technology department will be challenged when it attempts to update

technology.

Some critical success factors identified for the FRSD Technology Department

include budget, staffing, computer/student ratio (particularly how many computers are

freely accessible at a given time), state standards and taxes. The department has a budget

which was achieved by refinancing a five year bond issue. Financing technology, with a

life cycle of three to five years, with a 5 year bond issue is not economically sound. The

District should build a capital reserve fund to support physical maintenance and

technology demands. The FRSD Technology Department is limited to only two technical

support staff members. This number is considerably short of being optimal. The

department needs to increase its staff or to utilize teachers and other district personnel to

enhance the overall knowledge of technology throughout the district. In order to advance

students' understanding of technology, the