Department Hub
Core operational dashboard for Blackford County Schools Technology Department. Select a module below to access dedicated service manuals, guidelines, and structural plans.
Welcome to the Technology Department Hub
We are committed to delivering secure, robust, and highly reliable technology solutions aligned directly with our CIA framework: Connect, Influence, and Achieve. Whether you need assistance with instructional software, enterprise database support, hardware troubleshooting, or cybersecurity protocols, our technical support specialists are prepared to assist. We encourage you to browse our operational sections below, look through our approved tools list, and reach out to our team whenever support is required.
District Mission
"Empowering students to maximize their potential."
CIA Framework
- Connect: Foster respectful & trusting relationships.
- Influence: Lead with positive, real-world opportunities.
- Achieve: High standards for growth & accountability.
Service Delivery
Creating and maintaining an effective, secure, and innovative environment supporting CIA.
- Stability: Reliable infrastructure & fiscal responsibility.
- Responsive: Timely & effective technical support.
- Intentional: Accessible, user-friendly resources.
- Influential PD: Cultivating trusting professional relationships.
- Strategic Innovation: Piloting AI, balancing digital safety.
Bruin Tech Support Buddy
Interact with our AI-powered support assistant for immediate technology help and guidance.
Ready to chat with Bruin Buddy?
For data security and to provide the best interactive AI experience, the Bruin Tech Support Buddy is hosted on a secure Google platform. Click below to launch your session.
Launch Bruin BuddyApproved Digital Tools
The BCS Walled Garden ecosystem and officially sanctioned software.
Walled Garden Approach
130+ Tools Vetted & ApprovedBCS utilizes a "Walled Garden" approach to digital tool adoption to guarantee data privacy, COPPA compliance, and secure user management. Tools outside of this approved list are strictly prohibited from receiving student PII.
Core Ecosystem & Mgmt
- Automagical Forms
- ClassDojo
- ClassLink OneClick
- Clever
- Destiny
- DOE Identity Server
- Education Advanced
- FinalForms
- Follett School Solutions
- Forms for Google Docs
- Formsite
- Google Education (Workspace, Gmail, YouTube)
- iOS
- Linewize by Qoria
- Microsoft Office 365
- PaperCut Mobility Print
Curriculum & Assessment
- ACHIEVE Literacy (McGraw Hill)
- Achieve3000
- ALEKS (McGraw Hill)
- Amplify
- CENGAGE Learning
- CogAT Tests (Riverside Insights)
- EDMENTUM
- Edmentum - Courseware, Assessments, Exact Path
- Formative
- GoGuardian / Pear Deck / Pear Assess
- Goodheart-Wilcox
- IREADY
- IXL Learning
- Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.
- McGraw Hill
- My Math Lab (Pearson)
- NWEA
- Pear Assessment
- PLTW
Interactive Learning
- Blooket
- Boddle Learning
- Boom Cards
- Brainzy
- Easel Activities
- Edpuzzle
- eSpark Teacher & Admin Dashboard
- Flocabulary
- Genially
- Gimkit
- Kahoot!
- Legends of Learning
- Lumio
- Nearpod
- Padlet
- Pear Deck
- Prezi
Reading, ELA & Languages
- BookFlix
- CommonLit
- Conjuguemos
- Duolingo
- Duolingo for Schools
- Epic Books
- Firelight Books
- Flangoo
- flangoo-td
- Grammarly
- Headsprouts
- Kids A-Z
- Klett World Languages Learning Portal
- LitCharts
- Magnetic Reading Foundations
- Newsela
- NoRedInk
- OverDrive
- Project Read
- Quill.org
- Read&Write by Texthelp
- ReadWorks
- Ready Reading
Math, Science & CS
- 99math
- Code.org
- CodeHS
- Desmos
- Discovery Education / Mystery Science
- GeoFS
- GeoGebra
- Keyboarding Without Tears
- Kodable
- Kuta
- Math Toolbox (Curriculum Associates)
- Microsoft MakeCode
- Nitro Type
- Numerade
- Ozobot
- Prodigy Education
Creativity & Design
- Adobe
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Adobe Express
- Animaker
- Autodesk
- BeFunky Photo Editor
- Canva
- CapCut-Web
- Figma
- iORAD
- KAMI by Notable
- Lumin PDF
- mote
- pdfFiller
- piktochart-com
- Pixlr Suite
Research & Supplemental
- academia.edu
- BlueFrame Technology
- Bold.org
- Brainly - Your AI Learning Companion
- Chegg Web Services
- Chess.com
- ChessKid-OAuth2
- CK-12
- Common Sense Education
- EBSCO
- Education.com
- GeoGuessr
- Going Merry Inc.
- iCEV!
- iCivics
- ipl.org
- ISSMA
- JSTOR
- Khan Academy
- Kuder Galaxy
- OpenAI
- Quaver Music
- Realistic Bridge
Literacy Curriculum Transparency
Science of Reading AlignedTo comply with recent Indiana legislation regarding literacy and curriculum transparency, here are the official curriculum descriptions for Blackford Primary School and Blackford Intermediate School. These entries are structured specifically for publication on the corporate website, ensuring parents and community members have clear insight into the district's alignment with the Science of Reading.
Blackford Primary School (Grades K–2)
Core Reading Curriculum
Publisher: Curriculum Associates | Programs: Magnetic Reading
Blackford Primary School utilizes Curriculum Associates' Magnetic Reading suite to provide a comprehensive, systematic approach to literacy.
- Magnetic Reading Foundations (K-2): Focuses heavily on the foundational "how-to" of reading. It delivers explicit instruction in phonics, word study, and high-frequency words, ensuring young learners transition smoothly from decoding words to automatic, fluent reading.
- Magnetic Comprehension: Complements foundational skills by using high-interest, knowledge-rich texts. This program systematically builds vocabulary and background knowledge across science, social studies, and the arts, empowering students to critically analyze and understand complex texts early in their academic journey.
Foundational Supplement
Publisher: Heggerty | Program: Phonemic Awareness
To reinforce early literacy, Blackford Primary School integrates daily, 10-minute explicit lessons from the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness curriculum. Grounded in the Science of Reading, this fast-paced, interactive program focuses purely on oral and auditory skills. Students practice isolating, blending, segmenting, and manipulating spoken sounds (phonemes), which forms the critical prerequisite framework for successful phonics and decoding instruction.
Blackford Intermediate School (Grades 3–6)
Core Reading & Writing Curriculum
Publisher: Savvas Learning Company (formerly Pearson)
Blackford Intermediate School utilizes the highly regarded Savvas literacy suites to transition students from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Both programs seamlessly integrate reading, writing, speaking, and listening into cohesive student workshops.
- myView Literacy (Grades 3–5): This program provides a balanced approach to literacy grounded in evidence-based research. It utilizes text sets organized around weekly concepts to expand vocabulary and deepen comprehension. Simultaneously, it embeds explicit writing workshops that teach grammar and the writing process alongside reading instruction.
- myPerspectives (Grade 6): Designed for upper-elementary and middle-grade learners, this curriculum focuses on student-centered learning. It encourages students to analyze complex, multi-genre texts, engage in meaningful collaborative discussions, and develop their own unique writing voices while hitting rigorous state standards.
Indiana Compliance Note
Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC 20-32-8.5-2), all adopted reading materials across Blackford County Schools are selected from the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE) approved High-Quality Curricular Materials list. They are explicitly aligned with the five pillars of the Science of Reading: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension.
Online Safety Hub
Empowering families and community with tools and resources for digital safety.
Secure Portal Access
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Qustodio Parent App
Getting started with Qustodio to monitor and manage your child's digital safety.
Secure Portal Access
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Impactful Technology Use (ITU)
Connecting teacher knowledge and task design via the Science of Learning roadmap.
Core ITU Strategy
TPCK + SAMR = ITUAt Blackford County Schools, our mission is empowering students to maximize their potential. To achieve this in the modern classroom, we leverage technology not just as a flashy add-on, but as a critical driver of student achievement. Impactful Technology Use (ITU) occurs at the intersection of a teacher's knowledge (TPCK) and thoughtful task design (SAMR), summarized by the framework equation: TPCK + SAMR = ITU.
Shift: From Consumption to Production
The fundamental shift required for ITU is moving technology use from passive consumption to active, student-driven production. Toggle the states below to compare classroom strategies.
The 6 Pillars of Student ITU
Select a Pillar
Technology at Blackford County Schools serves as a "cognitive partner" in the learning process, creating deeply meaningful learning experiences. Click on any of the student competency pillars on the left to learn about its classroom application.
The Teacher's Knowledge Toolkit: TPCK
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK)
The sweet spot of the teacher's toolkit. It is not just about knowing technology, nor just knowing how to teach, but understanding specifically how pedagogical techniques leverage particular technology tools to teach content standards in ways previously impossible.
The Path to Innovation
As teachers develop their TPCK, they progress through five developmental stages along the Path to Innovation. This development changes how instructional coaching supports them in the classroom.
Stage 1: Entry
"only if I have to..."Task Design: The SAMR Model
The SAMR model is a four-level taxonomy that guides how we design instructional tasks to enhance and transform learning.
Level 1: Substitution
Technology acts as a direct tool substitute with no functional change. For example, using a Chromebook simply as an $800 notebook and pencil. The learning objective remains exactly the same as on paper.
Interactive ITU Teacher Self-Assessment
Where do your current classroom lessons fit? Use this self-assessment to map your task design and teacher knowledge domains, then discover how to progress along the Path to Innovation.
Analyzing...
1.10 Impactful Technology Use Rubric Matrix
| Ineffective | Improvement Necessary | Effective | Highly Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
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- Anderson, Liz. "The Dynamic Learning Project: helping deliver on the promise of tech in the classroom." Google Blog, Google for Education, 27 July 2017.
- Groshell, Zach. Just Tell Them: the Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. John Catt Educational, Limited, 2024.
- Lemov, Doug. Teach Like a Champion 2.0: 62 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College. Wiley, 2015.
- Puentedura, Ruben R. "SAMR: A Brief Introduction." Hippasus, October 2015.
- "SAMR and TPACK: Two models to help with integrating technology into your courses." Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, August 2022.
- Terada, Youki. "A Powerful Model for Understanding Good Tech Integration." Edutopia, May 2020.
- "The TPACK Framework Explained (With Classroom Examples)." PowerSchool, Resource Library, April 2025.
eLearning Day Resources
Instructional technology integration, guidance, and student support protocols.
Information & Guidance
Student Technology Helpline
For immediate assistance with device troubleshooting, connectivity, or access issues during remote instructional days.
Email Support
bcstechsupport@blackfordschools.orgTech Tools & Chromebook App Resources
| Operation/Task | Website/App |
|---|---|
| Synchronous Class Instruction (Live Online Class) | Join Meet button through each of your teachers' Google Classrooms |
| Class Content & Assignments | Google Classroom |
| Take Notes | Google Keep, Google Docs, Kami |
| Check Grades & Attendance | Skyward |
| Submit Work Completed on Paper Virtually | Use the Camera app on your Chromebook, Kami, Google Classroom Mobile App (download to your personal device through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, connect via your BCS credentials) |
| Ask your teacher a question | Attend Google Meet Office Hours, Gmail, or Google Chat |
| Write/Draw on Your Chromebook | Kami, Chrome Canvas, Google Cursive, Google Keep |
| Create a Presentation | Google Slides |
| Create a Video or Screen Recording | Google Screencast, WeVideo, Chromebook Screenshot & Screenrecord Tools |
| Screen Reader | Chromebook Accessibility Menu -- Select to Speak |
| Save My Work | Google Drive, Chromebook Files App, Create a Google Site |
| Create a Poster, Graphic Design, Digital Art | Google Drawings, Canva |
| Create an Audio Recording | Vocaroo |
Strategic Technology Plan
Connecting curriculum, infrastructure, and fiscal sustainability through the CIA framework.
I. Curriculum & Instruction
- Goal: Standardize a distraction-free digital learning environment aligning with Indiana statutes.
- Benchmark: 100% of teachers trained on Classwize 'Screen Layouts' to enforce instructional integrity.
- KPI: 5% increase in "Highly Effective" ratings in Domain 1.9 (Classroom Management) evaluated via Triangulated Data (Walkthroughs & Classwize Analytics).
II. Inventory & Infrastructure
- Goal: Maintain a standardized 1:1 environment with optimized connectivity.
- Benchmark: Transition BJSHS to a private WAN with Vero by Aug 2026. Replace EoL switches via eRate Cat 2 funding.
- KPI: Maintain 99.99% internet uptime with <4ms jitter. Zero "Classroom-Down" events caused by switch failure.
III. Tech Support & Admin
- Goal: Reorganize department for strategic leadership rather than basic coordination.
- Benchmark: Establish monthly KPIs for MSP Tier 2/3 engineering support by May 2026.
- KPI: 10-minute response time for systemic outages; 100% resolution within 2 hours.
IV. Professional Development
- Goal: Multi-modal PD for ITU, AI literacy, and cybersecurity.
- Initiatives: "Impactful Tech Use (ITU)" Initiative, "Digital Gradual Release", "Home-School Safety" portal, AI Literacy Cohort (Gemini/Snorkl).
- KPI: 80% of teachers move up one level on ITU Rubric dimensions of "Student Agency".
Budget, Funding & Accountability
Use data-driven measures to justify technology spend utilizing the Impact-Per-Dollar (IPD) audit framework.
Sunset Protocol
Any platform with <20% active monthly engagement is considered for non-renewal. Funds reallocated to high-growth tools.
Growth Correlation
Cross-reference active usage (Linewize/Google logs) with NWEA/i-Ready growth scores to validate impact.
Fiscal Reallocation
KPI: Min $15,000 in licensing reallocated from Low-Impact tools to infrastructure or high-growth cognitive partners.
Organization & Roles
Department hierarchy, role definitions, and MSP augmentation.
Department Organization
Executive Oversight
Strategic Advancement & Operations of Technology
SIS, User Accounts, & State Reporting
Tech Support
Chromebook Support & Ticketing
Engineering & Tier 3 Support
Director of Technology
- Strategic Management: Tech Plan execution, E-Rate, budgets, MSP vendor management.
- Instructional Leadership: Coaching shift to "Impactful Tech Use" (ITU), Gen AI curriculum alignment.
- Security & Infrastructure: Cybersecurity posture (Crowdstrike), 1GB fiber health, Zero-Trust backups.
- Compliance: Primary lead for cyber events, FERPA/CIPA enforcement, Board reporting.
Data & Systems Specialist
- Skyward Admin: State reporting lead (IDOE), data integrity audits.
- Identity Management: Manages the "Sync Tree" (Skyward -> AD -> Google -> Clever), account provisioning.
- Operations: User billing, device insurance (School Device Coverage), GoTo PBX technical admin.
Technician (Tier 1/2)
- End-User Support: First point of contact (Tier 1) for hardware, software, printing.
- Device Management: Hands-on repair (Chromebooks, Windows), OS deployment, Vizor inventory.
- Infrastructure: Manage wiring closets, Epson Projector or BenQ panel A/V setup, Rhombus camera & Triton sensor connectivity.
- Escalation: Engineering liaison to Tier 3 MSP partner.
Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Core Infrastructure: Proactive 24/7/365 monitoring of LAN/WAN/WLAN, Firewall configuration.
- Security & Backups: Threat detection, Veeam/Wasabi immutable backup maintenance.
- SLAs: 2-hour response, 4-hour restoration commitments for systemic outages.
Student Technology Interns
- Hardware Repair: Component replacement (screens, keyboards), diagnostic triage.
- HelpDesk: Staff student helpdesk, Vizor asset tracking, daily loaner management.
- Certifications: Work-based learning aligned with Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, or WISE Level 1.
Data Governance Manual
Legal compliance, privacy standards, and EdTech vetting procedures.
FERPA & PPRA
FERPA: Protects privacy of student education records. Requires written consent before releasing PII (with specific exceptions like school officials).
PPRA: Requires parental consent/notice for certain surveys regarding beliefs/behaviors and non-emergency physical exams.
CIPA & COPPA
CIPA: Requires filters to block harmful content, adoption of internet safety policies, and digital citizenship education.
COPPA: Requires verifiable parental consent before online services collect personal info from children under 13. (Foundational consideration for K-12).
Data Classification Levels
| Type | Definition / Examples |
|---|---|
| Public | Approved for public disclosure (website content, board agendas). |
| Directory | FERPA-defined unharmful data (Name, grade, sports, awards). Parents can opt-out. |
| Educational Records | Legal records (Transcripts, IEPs, health info, disciplinary records). |
| PII | Personally Identifiable Info (SSN, biometric data, username linked to identity). |
| Confidential | Protected by law/policy (All Ed Records, staff health status). |
EdTech App Vetting Process
5+ requests or Curriculum Lead
Admin evaluation
District leadership
DPA via SDPC
Added to Library
AI & Cybersecurity
Gen AI guidelines, threat protection, and event response.
Cyber Event Response Plan
Aligned to NIST Incident Response Life Cycle. Delineates specific contacts for law enforcement, insurance, and state reporting. Defines roles for the Cyber Event Response Team.
Access Response Portal (opens in a new tab)Generative AI Administrative Guidelines
Foundational Principles: Human Oversight is Required (80/20 rule), Walled Garden Approach (Only BCS Google Workspace approved tools), and Strict Prohibition of PII input into public models.
Administrators
Appropriate: Operational efficiency (drafting policies), non-PII data analysis.
Prohibited: Auto-assigning staff effectiveness ratings, high-stakes irreversible decisions (discipline/budget cuts) without human review, inputting staff/student PII.
Certified Teachers
Appropriate: Drafting lessons, developing rubrics, formative feedback, generating templates (NotebookLM, Snorkl).
Prohibited: Assigning final letter grades via AI, entering disciplinary/SPED data into public AI, accusing students of plagiarism *solely* on AI detector scores.
Classified Staff
Appropriate: Drafting memos, summarizing non-confidential logs.
Prohibited: Modifying student/financial SIS data via unintegrated AI, entering proprietary financial/maintenance codes into public models.
Students
Appropriate: Thought partner for brainstorming/outlining via approved tools (Gemini for Students, NotebookLM).
Prohibited: Plagiarism (copy/paste submission), generating inappropriate content or deepfakes, bypassing approved "whitelist" tools.
Cybersecurity Stack
AI/machine learning endpoint detection on Windows devices to stop zero-day/ransomware.
CIPA compliant internet filtering by Linewize through Filter, SafeSearch, Classwize, Monitor, and Qustodio Parent App.
KnowBe4 Security Awareness Campaigns & Training, KnowBe4 PhishER Threat Hunting. FortiGate Next Gen Firewall & FortiClient VPN for secure remote access.
IT Operations & Workflows
Technician onboarding, service management, and IAM protocols.
15-Day Tech Onboarding
Foundations. Mission, MDF/IDF closet audits, Vizor ticketing training, and the Sync Tree.
Device Mgmt. Chromebook repair lab, Epson projector or BenQ panels, Papercut, Linewize Classwize.
Infrastructure & Cyber. Aruba SSIDs, CrowdStrike, Veeam backups, Rhombus cameras.
Mastery. Cyber response simulation, shadowing, and resolving Vizor tickets independently.
Vizor Service Management
- User Portal: bcs.vizor.cloud/connect
- Repair Protocol: Log damage, replace parts, change status to 'Assigned', sync to update serials (motherboard swaps require Google Admin deprovisioning).
Identity Management
Onboarding
Students: Skyward -> Auto-sync to AD & Google.
Staff: Skyward -> Vizor request -> Manual AD/Google/Papercut creation.
Offboarding
Accounts disabled in AD via RDP, moved to Inactive OU in Google. GoTo extensions unassigned, PaperCut deleted.
Core Infrastructure
Network topology, hardware assets, and physical security standards.
Wide Area Network & ISP
1 GB FiberKeep bandwidth specs simple. Fiber optic backbone linking all schools to BJSHS. 256mbps connections split. Transitioning to Vero private WAN.
Mainstream (ISP)
Mainstream Fiber serves as the primary Internet Service Provider (ISP) for Blackford County Schools, delivering the dedicated high-speed fiber connection necessary for district-wide internet access and cloud-based services.
AT&T (WAN)
AT&T provides the Wide Area Network (WAN) services, interconnecting all district buildings and campuses with a reliable fiber optic backbone to ensure seamless internal data routing and communication.
Aruba Central Management
Cloud-based administration for all wired and wireless components (Aruba Switches & APs). Enables rapid diagnostics and AIOps analytics.
FortiGate Firewall & VPN
Security ApplianceCore edge security appliance routing external traffic, enforcing secure network segmentation (VLANs), and protecting against external threats. Provides secure remote access via FortiClient VPN utilizing RADIUS authentication and FortiToken MFA.
Network SSIDs
BCS_Secure
WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise. Primary network for managed devices. Linewize filtered.
BCS_Visitor
Captive Portal. Segregated temporary accounts for guests/BYOD.
BCS_Public
Captive Portal. Open and accessible for the public after 4:00PM each day.
Enrollment
Temp staging network for MDM policy pulls.
BCS_Emergency
First Responders, HVAC, IP cameras.
Classroom Hardware
- Epson Projector or BenQ Interactive Flat Panels Epson interactive laser projectors or BenQ interactive flat panels managed via BenQ Admin Dashboard using InstaShare 2 for wireless casting.
- Teacher Workstations Chromebook+ Laptop, Lenovo ThinkVision 24" monitors, wireless peripherals, document camera, and Belkin 14-Port USB-C Docks (65W). Student Devices 1:1 Chromebook Grades K-12.
Physical Security (IoT)
Rhombus AI: Cloud-native camera system & door monitoring.
Triton Sensors: Installed in restrooms. Detects vape residue, THC, abnormal sound levels.
Honeywell Door Access: Entry access controls & logging.
Print Management
PaperCut & Toshiba: Secure Follow-Me Printing via key fob to reduce waste.
Scale IT Virtualization
HCIHyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) providing robust and scalable virtualization for all core on-premise servers. Ensures high availability, simplified resource management, and seamless allocation for district-critical applications.
Data Continuity
VeeamComprehensive disaster recovery and data protection architecture. Veeam manages automated, secure backup workflows, while Synology NAS appliances serve as resilient local storage repositories to guarantee data continuity.
Vertiv UPS
Power MgmtLithium-ion Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units providing critical power backup and conditioning for network closets (MDF/IDF) and server infrastructure. Ensures system stability and safe automated shutdown procedures during power loss events.
Resources & Documentation
Centralized repository for departmental documents, reference materials, and external links.
Portals & Links
System Status
Live operational health and service indicators for BCS platforms and infrastructure.
Check Platform Health
If you are experiencing issues with a specific application or network service, check the official status pages below for known outages or scheduled maintenance before submitting a ticket.