I am pleased to report that Littleton Public Schools are all fully functional with wireless networking.  Of course, our wired network is still in place and is still essential to our IT services, but now that network is enhanced by wireless services as well.  Currently, any district owned device that is wireless compatible can be connected to the LPS-1 wireless network.  Building computer coaches need to be involved in configurations, but the process is rather painless.  In the coming month, we will announce some additional features of the wireless network to greatly enhance the services we support.

Why do we need wireless?  This networking enables principals to have full access to their computing environments away from their offices... where they are needed.  Some school leaders have remarked to me that simply being able to address their email in a hallway or lunch room increases their visibility and supervision efficacy.  Guy Grace, our Director of Security for LPS, is making use of wireless to enhance their responsiveness and ability to provide important information to first responders during a crisis making our district a safer place.  Wireless devices for students are being used in more flexible configurations enabling easier sharing of technology and greater access in rooms that are not computer labs.

Ultimately, wireless networking is becoming an expected feature of IT infrastructure... like running water in a building.  People simply expect it to be there.  This is one, small piece of creating a 21st Century Learning space in every school in LPS. 

How did we do this?  With strong support from the Board of Education and generous donations from the community through the Littleton Public Schools Foundation, sufficient funds were developed to deploy over 300 wireless access points across the district.  Without our Board's leadership and our community's support, this step forward could not have been possible.  Our work is not done, but we've taken a big step for 2007-2008.

Have a great year!