*In any discussion of Technology in Education, a few consistent themes prevail…*

• Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in education. Educators are being driven by demands from Government, trustees, teachers, students and parents for an increased use of technology in the classroom and in the board office. • The opportunities, choices and options for technology are increasing, making decisions about long term commitments difficult and potentially costly. • Budgets are being squeezed. Educators, administrators and managers are being forced to accomplish more with less.
*As a result, many organizations, public and private, are turning to cost sharing, resource pooling and co-operative ventures as the solution to large scale technology initiatives*
The Educational Computing Network of Ontario (ECNO) has been at the forefront of addressing technology issues in education for the past two decades. ECNO is an independent information technology co-operative, wholly owned and managed by its Ontario School Board members. To participate, member Boards pay a graduated fee based on their size and the products and services to which they subscribe. A fee cap ensures that ECNO is attractive to both large and small Boards. ECNO is managed by a Board of Directors, elected annually by its membership. ECNO’s Products and Services are delivered to members through its technology services partner, SRB Educational Solutions Inc. and Keous Solutions Inc.
Since its inception in the late 1970’s ECNO has been able to continually deliver comprehensive, cost-effective IT solutions to its members, and in doing so, has saved the Ontario educational community millions of dollars. ECNO has achieved this by:

pooling resources to address the most complex and expensive IT initiatives such as software development, software maintenance, research and analysis of new technologies, vendor negotiations, etc. adopting and supporting technology standards which ensure the delivery of reliable, responsive and cost-effective IT services to members. incorporating a staged fee structure for members which allows high quality IT products, services and resources to be available to all Boards, irrespective of size. facilitating partnerships and negotiating co-operative-wide license and service agreements with Private Sector IT players, resulting in significant pricing discounts as well as enhanced product and service offerings. providing a forum for the exchange of School Board expertise, ideas and resources.