San Antonio ISD - Bond 2020 Technology Projects Update

Technology Update

SAISD on track to meet digital equity by fall 2024!

The district is on track to meet an exciting milestone by fall 2024: For the first time in SAISD history, every classroom will provide students with the same access to the latest technology!

Bond 2020's Proposition B included $90 million for technology upgrades at all schools. The upgrades began rolling out in fall 2021 at 31 schools, through the districtwide bond-funded Lighthouse Technology initiative. The rollout included interactive panels in all classrooms, upgraded device charging for students, and a shared mobile computer cart at each campus. Currently, the district is delivering interactive panels, newer computers for administrators, and touch-screen laptops for teachers to the last two groups of schools that have not yet received newer technology. The district’s goal is to maintain this uniform access with a refresh of equipment every five years.

Additionally, wi-fi infrastructure improvements have been completed at 40 schools. Work is underway on the next group of schools and will continue through fall 2025. Included in the improvements is wi-fi access in school courtyards, gyms, music buildings, JROTC, cafeterias and auditoriums. This helps campuses maximize their school use because those locations can be turned into temporary learning and project spaces.

View the video below to learn more about the Lighthouse Technology initiative.

Updated 4/18/24

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Back to School - Teachers Appreciate New Laptops

As we welcomed our teachers back for the 2023-24 school year, we utilized our Bond funds to purchase and deliver brand new laptops to nearly 2,000 teachers at SAISD. Every single teacher that is new to SAISD this school year received a new laptop, and we were also able to replace the laptops of every returning teacher at our 51 Lighthouse Campuses that have already received their Bond Technology Upgrades. Teachers at our remaining campuses will receive upgraded laptops within the next 12 months, and we are making plans to provide upgraded laptops to paraprofessionals (such as special education and library instructional assistants) this year as well. Updated 8/16/2023

Final upgrades to wireless system at SAISD High Schools nears completion

Work continues on the final installation for wireless upgrades at SAISD High Schools. Once completed, the wireless upgrade project started in 2021/22 will come to a close. Updated 8/25/2023

SAISD's continuous improvement of wireless connectivity at SAISD Bond project kicks off!
A new project for 2023-2024 has been kicked off which will span this and the next two years to cover Bond campuses that have been awaiting upgrades. These campuses were passed over for upgrades during the previous round as start of construction uncertainty prevented campuses from being completed. To minimize liability risk to the district, the district deferred these campuses while final planning was completed, and a more certain timeline realized. Updated 9/1/2023

SAISD Technology improves Districtwide network infrastructure wiring
Switches are now less of a story. Starting back in 2019 or 2020, SAISD changed its standard for classroom network infrastructure wiring, which resulted in a 50 to 80% reduction in switch density across the district. This saves in power and cooling costs, as well as refreshing of equipment. It also allows technicians not to replace as many every five to eight years. The standard change resulted in the rise of one-to-one wireless laptops, Chromebook laptops, and iPads for classrooms because they no longer required hardwired lines. This changed the classrooms from needing only five standards network drops versus the previous requirement of 11 or more per classroom. Updated 9/1/2023