Information Services (IS) provides the personnel, services, hardware and software to support the instructional and operational work of the District. As the department continues to roll out its general technology plan, U-46 has increased access to technology by adding new classroom devices and wireless coverage upgrades in every building, making technology more available to more students more often.

IS works closely with the curriculum department to promote best-practice instruction, including biodiversity webcasts, physical education apps on iPads and engineering design software for PLTW courses. Increased access to technology has helped the learning experience become more immediate and available on-demand. With the introduction of Google Apps for Education, teachers and students are now able to research and collaborate with ease.

Collaborative efforts with the assessment department have been crucial to the roll-out of several state-required online assessments. This partnership has also allowed the analysis and sharing of student and staff data between teachers and administrators for the purposes of furthering student and staff development.

Helping to support teacher development, IS created a leading-edge application to collect teacher evaluation information. The Teacher Appraisal Plan (TAP) was developed in conjunction with the Teacher Effectiveness Initiative (TEI), a department that is dedicated to improving teaching.

IS maintains a data center and the connection from all 55 schools to each other and the Internet. The department services 24,500 computers with the help of over 60 staff members. IS covers the technical needs of staff at all schools and the District's Educational Service Center, Transportation and Plant Operations buildings.

If you have questions about the role of IS in the District, you may call the department directly at 847-888-5000 ext. 5743.