2008-2009: 

Improving Communications: Each building web site as well as the district web site was updated. The update included a graphic image with one of the three core values. For the first time the athletic department had its own web site that provided a tool to communicate events, documents, and news stories. The high school site added more student content including an electronic version of Fox Tales.

Parent/Student Portal: The district developed the Edline portal for student, parent and teacher interaction. Over 2,000 parents K-12 activated their Edline codes. Over 90% of secondary students used Edline to access assignments, news stories, and calendar information, including Student Activities.  

Developing Employee Skills: Every teacher participated in at least one technology-related professional development activity that focused on using technology to differentiate instruction. At the secondary level there were hands-on workshops for the professional staff. All high school teachers participated in the Classrooms for the Future (CFF) project. As part of CFF teachers completed an online course from the Embedded Learning Academy.

Data Collection: The district continued to use technology to inform instruction. Administratively, the district submitted data to the Pennsylvania Department of Education as part of the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS). Instructionally teachers continued to use EdInsight, 4Sight, CPAA, and other data systems to better make decisions about student performance.

Laptops for Kids:  Working with ALL of Us Care four students received laptops and training in the use of the computer. The students used the laptops to access curricular materials and resources.

Technology Framework: A K-12 team of teachers worked with Norton Gusky, Ron Korenich and Shelley Beck to develop a series of expectations for students at the end of grades 5,8, and 12. The benchmarks were aligned with the 2007 National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Students developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The School Board approved the technology benchmarks and framework. 

Regional Wide-Area Network: The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) completed the plans for the regional network, Allegheny Connect, that Fox Chapel and other school districts in Allegheny County will join in the 2009-2010 school year. The network will provide a pipeline to connect districts together to share applications and services, an access to the high-speed research network, Internet2, and an increased capacity to connect with the public Internet. Norton Gusky served on the Curriculum and Instruction committee for Allegheny Connect.

Classrooms for the Future: The high school became a total CFF environment. All teachers participated in CFF activities. The CFF Student Cohort provided instructional support for teachers, helping the teachers infuse technology into classroom instruction.

Infrastructure: The district continued its upgrade of voice, video, and data systems by moving forward with a plan to upgrade the video distribution network. RPC Video upgraded the high school TV studio, improved district-wide video capabilities including the district’s broadcast into the community, and provide new opportunities for staff members to use the building libraries for digital recording.

Leadership: Through the work of the district technology committee and the participation of key staff members at regional, state, and national conferences, the Fox Chapel Area School District played a leadership role in the world of educational technology. Within the school district Norton Gusky coordinated the CFF project and the midpoint revision of the strategic plan.

Alumni Study: The district contracted with Futuristics, an educational research firm, to survey the high school class of 2006. Nearly 40% of the alumni completed the survey that provided data about curricular, programmatic, and extra-curricular activities at the high school.

Interactive and Online Learning: The district made considerable headway moving towards the strategic goals of providing a more engaged and interactive learning environment and preparing students to live a global society by providing access to online resources.

Tech Planning: The district began to assess the impact on the current strategic plan and identified areas for the next three years of the technology plan (2009-2012)