It looks like schools may get new computers before they get new roofs or HVAC systems.
Even though no major construction projects need to be delayed for now, school administrators said Tuesday that some smaller items need to be suspended. That list had included the district's computer replacement program.
But staff pulled the suspension of the computers off the list when school board members complained.
The school district's current $1.056 billion capital improvement program includes $35.2 million for technology replacement. Under Wake's PC Refresh program, the school district is replacing the older computers found in schools.
Administrators had proposed putting the PC Refresh program on hold for a year, saving $9 million. But the idea of suspending the computer replacements drew concern from school board member Beverley Clark.
Clark argued that schools, especially the older ones, need to have the PC Refresh program in place. Clark has made equity between older and newer schools one of her concerns over the past nine years.
Clark also raised concerns about equity between affluent and less affluent schools. She argued that more affluent schools would be less impacted by the suspension of the PC Refresh program because their parents can afford to buy new computers for the schools.
"Some schools don't have the parental resources to replace the computers," Clark said.
Clark's concern was soon echoed by other board members.
Don Haydon, chief facilities and operations officer, responded by saying staff would amend the list to keep funding in place for the PC Refresh program. But he warned that they'll have to find the $9 million elsewhere. He didn't say where on Tuesday.
What's still on the list to be delayed are life cycle projects such as replacement of roofs and HVAC systems. Instead of replacing them on a regular schedule, they'll only be done on an emergency basis.
Click here for the original list presented by staff.
Comments
I know it is bad......
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 22:08 — WuptdoHaving so MANY highly educated and well paid bureaucrats on staff at WCPSS that we NEVER need to look outside the county for better ideas and taxpayer savings, but...........
http://lists.more.net/archives/technic/2004-February/001042.html
http://www.itxchange.com/itxchange/default.asp?
The more you know......
.
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 07:35 — Voice_of_Reason_.
Even more options
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 06:01 — Voice_of_Reason_The Defense Dept gives (FREE) relatively good computers away to schools if they go to the Reutilization centers with appropriate credentials. They don't have hard drives and yes a few don't work, but the vast majority do.
The problem is the schools don't have the staff to assess, configure, and "certify" these computers for use in WCPSS.
Why don't they have a central location to get these computers and get skilled volunteers to do it for them? All they would have to do is provide guidelines, software, and minimum work areas so they can begin to process them. We do not need state of the art computers in schools anymore. Adequate computers to do word processing, Powerpoint, and Internet browsing have been around for years. Students don't need the high end graphics engines and huge processing power comercial apps sometimes require. When do you see high school students do 300 page documents with graphics, etc. This is not the early 90's anymore, most computers out there can do the work that they need now. Hard drives, energy efficient flat screen monitors, and highly discounted academic versions of software are the main LIMFACS. Oh yeah, and L E A D E R S H I P and V I S I O N.
Priorities
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 19:19 — joeciullaWell, I am just deeply relieved that they didn't cut the two new executive superintendent positions. These kids are just spoiled, expecting air-conditioning and spiffy computers. The benefit they receive from having two more executives will surely more than outweigh these minor inconveniences.
By the way.....
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 10:37 — WuptdoWCPSS should never BUY computers, due to tech changes. They should lease them, but what do I know.
I just hope....
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 10:36 — WuptdoSorry folks, just more "gloom & doom" from the WCPSS Public Relations department to scare you to voting for WakeEd's & NandO's preferred "tax & spend" candidates. Remember, it has absolutely nothing to do with education, and all about "tax"money and power! When a BoE(eR) members says, "It's for the Children!" you should translate that too, "It's for me and my ego!"
And some of the lemmings will buy into it, and that is why they same hateful politicians keep getting re-elected. It is time for change and the best change would be removing the "status-quo" Seven.
Briefly
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 10:21 — Dadof3The whole "computers = education" thing is a bit of canard.
OF COURSE our kids need computers, OF COURSE they are a valuable means (not end) for education. That said, education doesn't stop on a dime when a Windows box crashes (By the way, there's a much more inexpensive solution to educational IT, called linux, but that's a different debate) we still have this wonderful technology; ink-on-paper. Doesn't need batteries. All these mature, reliable data store fundamentals are in our "media centers." They're called, ahem: books. (Suppressing an eye-roll)
Computers should never trump HVAC or other more foundational or fundamental aspects to education. Alas, every one is hot and heavy for the sexy silicon snake oil. That's too bad.
the sickest part is the BoE
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 09:23 — AngelaWthe sickest part is the BoE continues to extend the haves and have-nots by NOT doing anything about the ITB schools, so Bev, shake it up and stop trying to steal from PTA's....that's just dumb and antogonistic and not a good way to inspire support. Why must you ALWAYS punish to achieve something?
The ONLY way LES got some computers was a combo of donations, a grant from my husband's company, and some money raised from fund raisers, bUT hell yeah we need HVAC, you know how many days in July it didnt' work? more than the ones that were shown on TV, that's for sure...
Frustrating
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 09:02 — Bob_SconceThe district should not rely on the PTA to provide essential equipment. If the standard is "one computer for every 50 students" or whatever, then the system should supply every school with one computer for every 50 students.
Bev Clark's position appears to be that if a school's PTA wants to add additional computers to a school, say to 1-for-25, then the district should either (a) take computer away from that school to bring the ratio back to 1-for-50 or (b) add computers to all the other schools, to bring their ratio to 1-for-25. Both options create perverse incentives for parents and unfairly punish the school with the active PTA.
Broke PTA does not mean inactive PTA
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 09:18 — vsheehanThere are many Active PTAs out there who could never afford the computers. The PTAs that can buy the computers have a base of parents who are exceedingly rich.
Both of my children’s many Wake schools had active PTAs. They just didn’t have the base population that could donate large amounts of money.
Disagree
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 15:43 — Bob_SconceI disagree with the "exceedingly rich" comment. I will acknowledge that it would be more difficult for a PTA from a school of poor students to raise a lot of money. But, computers are cheap. $1 from each of 500 families buys a computer.
In any case, it is the district's job to make sure that there are enough computers in the school for the teachers to do their jobs and for the students to learn. Anything else provided by the PTA is gravy. Bev Clark is complaining that some schools get more gravy than others.
She's right that some schools get more, but wrong to complain -- it's not her job to redistribute gravy. If she wants a school to have more gravy, then she can donate to that school's PTA from her own wallet, but not from mine.
ummmmmm
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 13:34 — Chris_HWhat do you mean exactly by bad Cary parents?
you know, the parents that
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 15:16 — AngelaWyou know, the parents that CARE and try to change things in the schools, the kind the BoE hates, the vocal kind of parent...."those crazy parents in Cary" Rosa Gill was overheard saying to Democratic candidates registering to run again.....
And there's your inequality
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 08:53 — rr77rr99And there's your inequality in WCPSS.. again.
Why the lemming parents are not outraged, is a mystery
Lemming parents
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 09:09 — Dadof3We need to change people's hearts and minds, not insult them. Many parents I know "try to make the best of it." They tend to open up when I say that while I like year round scheduling; that I don't like having it be mandatory. I then go into all the arguments regarding the mandatory scheduling as a national failure, and so on. That comment is rarely not responded to -- and we have a productive chat about the matter.
If I were to say, "Of course you're trying to make the best of it; you're a lemming." What effect will that have?
I agree the parents are not
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 09:21 — vsheehanI agree the parents are not lemmings. They are just hoping it will all work out in the end or are afraid of being labeled one of those bad Cary parents.
Maybe in your neck of the
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 16:45 — Anonymous (not verified)Maybe in your neck of the woods they are not lemmings, but in mine they are.
Of course new computers are
Thu, 10/23/2008 - 08:13 — vsheehanOf course new computers are way more important to the BOE. The new HVAC system are for all the MYR schools in Cary , Apex, and Leesville . Let those kids roast in the summer during MYR session so the inner Raleigh schools can have new computers. The only PTAs that could afford new computers are inside Raleigh(Broughton). No PTA in Western Wake has the money for computers. So either the BOE has no clue about their population or again the BOE is showing that Western Wake is unimportant to them unless they need to screw with them to benefit Raleigh kids.