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Staff MacBook Email #2

All, A few weeks ago, I sent an email regarding our plan for upgrading all staff MacBooks this summer. I wanted to provide some further guidance and some steps you can begin to take to plan for this changeover. 

 1. As I shared earlier, we are not planning to install Microsoft Office of our staff devices, unless there is an instructional need. An example is our secondary math curriculum at Point and the HS requires that use. An application type process will be shared in the upcoming weeks with you for requesting this. In preparation for this change, we have created steps you can take to begin to move Microsoft Office files over to Google Drive. Here's directions on how to do that: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x-33PVroyghpOESOertOPWfaxcqbSdIctRUXUnv7RH0/edit 

 2. Many of you have shared how you currently use Mimio technology in your classrooms, whether that be a Mimio tablet or their whiteboard technology. This technology is old and their company has not kept up with current technology. The software for these devices does not work on the newest versions of Mac OS. The company says that they are working on a solution, but we are not confident that it will be up and running anytime soon. For those of you who've reached out with this concern, please keep looking for solutions. We haven't identified anything that will "convert" the Mimio "stuff" to other platforms, so no matter what re-creation of the material will probably be necessary. Please work with building or district level instructional supports to see what might work. I will say, at this time the Technology department is not in a position to purchase replacement technology, so IF things are identified we'd need to look to building level funds to make those purchases. If there are specific items that you'd like to discuss further, please let me know! More information will continue to come around this!

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