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  1. HRCollins
    Member

    You may want to also include the St. Mary School students who are also District 96 students. They are entitled to the same types of benefits as all of the District 96 students (speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc) just like home schooled children (Home schooled children can participate in sports at public schools).

    Add at least another 20 laptops per grade for the St. Mary kids.

    I completely agree with Kim that the logistics of the laptop program are going to be difficult to overcome. In well run companies the ratio of computers to pc tech/help desk people is usually less than 50 to 1.

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 14:35 #
  2. Catherine
    Member

    By the time an Apple comes out, it's obsolete, never mind making it through 4 years! This is a cracked idea unless we were saving on books, BIG time.

    We should make sure kids that don't have computers at home get one. Desktop. Laptops' cost is for portability, not functionality. Internet access can be had at library. I know kids who do this. Too bad we are stuck with Comcast's scandalous prices.

    Is this really about to happen?

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 14:36 #
  3. HRCollins
    Member

    ATT's DSL costs are reasonable. You can get it for $20/month and I don't think you need have active phone service.

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 14:46 #
  4. JohnM
    Member

    In the District 96 School Board minutes from 2/17/09, I found the following (I've edited it for space):

    The Committee was updated on the progress of the “5 for 4” Program (individual laptop computer for every 5th grade student in 2009-10)...They have developed a vision statement based on the District’s Mission and prepared a job description for a project manager who will oversee the implementation and management of the program. A great deal of research has gone into the project with more questions to be answered and details worked out...The project manager position is expected to be posted within the next several weeks. The laptops will be funded by outside sources, not from district revenues.

    In the "Bulletin from the Board" section of the D96 website, I found the following referencing discussion from the March 17 Board meeting:

    Ames principal Colleen Lieggi reported on the proposed 1 to 1 Laptop Initiative for possible implementation in 2009-10. The program would be designed to provide all 5th graders with a laptop computer for use 24/7 through 8th grade at Hauser Junior High. The committee has been working on developing a vision for the program and has conducted site visits at three area middle schools where this program is currently operational. The next step in the process is to hire a “project manager” who would be responsible for developing curriculum, professional development, parent/teacher/student communication, and infrastructure maintenance components for the program. The program initiative will continue to be discussed by the administration and the Board before a final decision is reached.

    I note the use of the words "proposed" and "possible implementation," so i don't know that this is actually a done deal. I wonder who the outside sources are who will fund this?

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 14:56 #
  5. Catherine
    Member

    Yes, I wonder too. It's not like the state or feds is free money.

    And I wonder how much the Project Manager will cost. I hope they discuss this with parents and do a cost/benefit analysis before spending any money.

    Can we GET DSL in Riverside??? Everytime I check on their website it says it is not available in this area.

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 15:04 #
  6. spatny
    Member

    Bill & Melinda had such a program in CA when I lived there. They put computers into libraries and also gave Windows laptops to certain grades, even built a couple of ultra-high tech alternative schools - a big one in Sonoma and in Davis, I think. I have DSL - go to ATT website and somewhere you put in your address - they must have it on Burlington. Get the fastest one they can give you...

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 15:07 #
  7. KimJ
    Member

    What strikes me about all these ar articles is that it starts in 7th grade, earliest. Is 5th too young to even consider? Even if we can afford this today, with our home values dropping/school revenue shortly following suit. Is it not more fiscally responsible to hoard that money so we can afford the math teacher 3 years from now? I still like the keyboarding class.

    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/13/financial/f130528D60.DTL

    "About 30 high schools already have laptops that they obtained outside the scope of the original program. But now all 120 of Maine's high schools, along with 241 middle schools, will have new laptops under the same program, at a cost of about $242 per computer per year, said Education Commissioner Susan Gendron."

    This next link reminds me of the IL TIF faq website, it is for the International High School in Singapore.
    http://www.iss.edu.sg/1to1/FAQ.html

    Some interesting questions here
    http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/12041

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 15:16 #
  8. Catherine
    Member

    Yes, well, if Bill and Melinda want to come here, that's different. Or Jobs.

    I think I'll just write to those folks over at D96.

    (No, they keep saying they don't have it; now I will call. My Comcast is so slow it might as well be dial up sometimes.)

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 15:16 #
  9. HRCollins
    Member

    Catherine - I have had DSL in Riverside since 2000.

    Do not rely on ATT's website. Call them.

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 15:19 #
  10. Catherine
    Member

    Oh boy. I cannot BELIEVE I have been putting up with Comcast's internet prices since I changed my phone to Vonage (which, it occurs to me, may not work with DSL.) By the way, Vonage, not great.

    Hm, don't ATT still do that weird thing with their phone charges: local, local toll, long distance? Really annoying.

    Thanks.

    Posted Tuesday Apr 14, 2009 15:23 #

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