Plugged In: Setting Up LaRue County Students for Technological Success

Just because the students are home for the summer doesn’t mean that LaRue County Schools’ Information Technology department gets a break.

Freddie Newby is the Chief Information Officer for the county, and his task appears simple at first glance: to provide access to up-to-date technology and resources for all of the students and staff. During the summer, that often looks like repairs.

It also looks like onboarding new employees and students before they arrive for in-service or the first day of classes. Upgrading data and fiber cabling. Replacing classroom hardware. Upgrading servers.

In practice, Newby’s team has a complex job even during the summer. But in an increasingly digital and technological world, IT is more important than it ever has been.

“The department manages a virtual server environment of nearly 40 virtual servers,” Newby said.

They maintain 2,600 ethernet ports, over 200 wireless access points, 300 cloud-based IP (Internet Protocol) phones, nearly 100 IP-controlled door access entry points, 250 IP surveillance cameras, districtwide IP-based intercom communications, digital signage, a multitude of software applications, 150 interactive classroom displays, approximately 300 staff laptops, and over 3000 student chromebooks, according to Newby.

But LaRue County’s IT department doesn’t only maintain the technical aspects that help our schools run. Part of Newby’s task is to provide educational support, as well. They operate a Student Technology Leadership Program, staff a student help desk, offer career and technical courses, and support the classroom however they can.

For Newby, the workload is just what it takes to accomplish the mission of his department: facilitating education.

“Education is the foremost important aspect of what our department supports,” he said. “Every aspect of technology decisions are based around our student, teacher, and instructional needs.”

Technology helps create rich–and safe–learning environments, but not if it doesn’t run smoothly. Fortunately, Newby and LaRue County IT workers are here to make sure they do. Newby explained why: “If IT fails to do that, we jeopardize the effectiveness of the school district and overall the success of our students.”