Published: Saturday, January 08, 2011, 10:00 AM
By
Lindsay Knake | The Saginaw News
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SAGINAW TWP. — Saginaw Township Community Schools is getting a big technology update with new computers and a wireless Internet network in each building.
The $60,000 wireless network should be in place in all schools by month’s end.
“It’s multi-purpose, not replacing the wired network, which is faster and more dependable,” said Jim Mitchell, the district’s information technology manager.
Students and staff can use the network for their own devices and to collaborate on school netbooks and laptops. Mitchell said the school plans to purchase more netbooks and laptops to aid class projects. Students and teachers will have access to carts of mobile computers.
“There is more and more call for collaboration in classrooms using technology,” he said.
The network installation at Heritage High School is nearly complete and half of White Pine Middle School is finished. Mitchell said he will tackle the elementary schools in the next few weeks as time permits.
Superintendent Jerry L. Seese said the wireless connection and increased access to the Internet will help students learn to use it and discern what is accurate or poor information. It’s also important for students to find a balance between using the Internet for learning and entertainment, he said.
The district is offering online classes to give students further learning options, Seese said. Students also can use the network for studying.
Funding for the wireless system comes in part from grants and a $40 million bond the district received three years ago. Of that bond, $2 million is for technology. Mitchell said the schools also replaced printers, copiers, interactive whiteboards, phones and servers with bond money.
Aside from the new Internet connection, Mitchell said the district is replacing computers for staff, faculty and students, starting with the teachers. Elementary school teachers had brand new Hewlett-Packard desktop computers at the start of the school year, and secondary staff will receive their new machines over the next few weeks.
Mitchell wants to upgrade student computers in labs — many of which are six years old — by the end of the summer. He is unsure whether they will be desktops or netbooks and laptops.
“We see the value of having a mobile device, but we have to balance cost, support and security,” he said. “The netbook is not as fast and we haven’t seen the useful life of a netbook.”
Article source: http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/01/saginaw_township_schools_addin.html
Category: Wireless Security