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An Apple A Day

Hurley School District Embarks On Technology Initiative

HURLEY - The Hurley School District voted unanimously tonight to move forward with its commitment to technology and the benefits that it will bring to the districts school children. The Hurley District has a comprehensive plan that will propel their students to the cutting edge of technology. The plan doesn’t come cheaply, but the School District’s Directors recognized the great benefits to education that this program will bring to Hurley.

The Directors watched a power point presentation by District Superintendent Chris Patritto and Roy Haeger, Technology Coordinator and Instructor for the Hurley School District.

Chris began the evening by restating the Districts Strategic Plan which states "The mission of the Hurley School District is to provide challenging educational opportunities to prepare our students and enrich our community because we believe that knowledge, education, and community support are essential for success"

Chris continued by outlining the goals of the program.

The goals of the project are

  • Transform teaching and learning
  • That this is a learning initiative
  • We must meet 21st Century Content
  • Creativity
  • Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking
  • Improve Student Achievement
  • Improve Teaching and Learning
  • Increase Student Performance on Standardized Tests
  • Prepare Students for the World of Work and/or College
  • Differentiate Instruction
  • Engage Students in their Learning

The Plan was then presented to the Board Members:

  • One on One Laptop for all High School Students for 2010-11
  • Replace Infrastructure (servers)
  • Upgrade Wireless Access
  • Replace Computer Labs in both Libraries
  • Replace Computer lab in Business Ed. Room
  • Provide 2 Wireless Computer Labs for the Elementary School
 

The project will be phased in quickly, beginning this year, and will be fully functional for the 2010-2011 school year.

The timeline for the project begins in April with an open house to introduce the project to the parents. During March and possibly April new servers will be installed. Continuing in April the district will install new wireless routers, then test the system with the Junior class receiving their laptops.

Beginning in April and moving through August the district will Prepare parents and community for the transition.

In August there will be two days of inservice for the staff and meetings with the parents, the laptops will be given out by class.

In September the project will be implemented in the district.
Repair services drop off will be the High School I.M.C., with Mr. Haeger and his tech crew handling repairs as necessary.

Finally, parents will receive some very basic instruction with computers.

Patritto then covered the fiscal aspect of this exciting venture.

In reviewing the financial aspect of the Technology Initiative, Superintendent Patritto demonstrated where the funds would be coming from to pay for the down payment. With respects to the annual lease payments, Chris pointed out that the annual lease payments will be less than current annual cost for Technology.

The plan is going to cost the district $639,000 of which approximately $500,00 is up front money, the balance being paid in four annual installments  of a lease purchase agreement. Each payment being $49,864.  The lease payments will actually be $41,136 less than the current annual technology costs.

Where are the funds for the down payment coming from?

$179,000 from stimulus money, $140,000 from the Microsoft settlement and $125,000 from Lalich Funds. A total of $444,000. Wala!
 

Roy Haeger, Technology Coordinator continued the evening’s presentation explaining the technology infrastructure the district would be getting with this milestone commitment.

In return for the financial commitment, the district will be receiving
389 computers, 290 more than the district has currently. Fifty four of the additional laptops wil be designated for the Elementary School.

Each student will be given a laptop that they will use in school and at home. Cool Huh! Students will have to pay an annual user fee of $40. The laptops will be turned in at the end of the school year. At that time each computer will be checked over and any changes or fixes required will be made at that time.

In addition to the new CPUs the project will include a new server, routers, ultra high speed broadband(an understatement), Current broadband speed is 3mbps, with the new system speed will increase to 100mbps. There will be new software that will greatly enhance the research capabilities of the Hurley students. All wrapped up into one integrated package.

The Apple computers will be coming with a great deal of support, much of which will be hands on training at the school. The hardware will be coming with a four year warranty and service agreement, which will cover the district right up to the time the lease expires. At that time, the district can if it so chooses purchase the laptops for a dollar each. It also can roll the computers over and purchase new ones, receiving a trade in allowance for the old ones.

The Board members asked quite a few wide ranging questions. Their concerns of course were those to be expected  by those charged with the fiscal health as well as the educational goals of the Hurley School District.

While the decision was weighty one, it was a very simple one to make. “If” you could afford to go forward, then there was no other choice to be made. 

Roy told the Board that The Computer Doctors in Ironwood, are in the process of becoming a Certified Apple Computer Repair Center.
 
Editors Note: IronwoodInfo has just recently learned that Computer Doctors are now an authorized Apple Reseller, one of only two in the Upper Peninsula. The Computer Doctors is a great place to bring any computer for repairs. They saved our (IronwoodInfo) bacon last fall when all our computers decided to crash at the same time. Local is better and we are indebted to the Computer Doctors for their fast and competent service!