The long-hoped for possibility of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) internet access will now become a reality.

BYOD was a key component of Alief’s 2014-2017 Long-Range Technology Plan, passed by the Alief Board of Trustees in their May 20 meeting with a vote of 6-0. Under this plan, all students and staff will eventually be able to access the Internet on personal devices through a district-provided guest network, linked to their district login account.

Kerr was chosen as one of several campuses to conduct a pilot BYOD program. It will launch BYOD as soon as the guest network is in place (expected to be during 2014 summer school) and will continue using wireless access on through at least the 2014-15 school year. Several other campuses will also conduct BYOD pilots during the same year. If all pilots go well, then BYOD is expected to proliferate to all campuses across the district.

The plan was presented to the board by William Marshall, director of Instructional Technology and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.