Officials seeking money for upgrading computers: [Sarasota Edition]

Abstract

Sarasota County School District administrators say they might be forced to put off upgrading many computers in classrooms until 2010 unless they find creative ways to pay for it.

The delay means that elementary school students could eventually be using computers made before they were born. Teachers say computers at some schools already could be considered obsolete.

"This school is supposed to be a high-tech school, yet I'm teaching computers and typing on computers that are 9 years old, and I'm using a typing book from 1973," said Andy Fox, a computer teacher at Sarasota Middle School. "And I understand it's all a budgetary issue, but the shame of it is it's the kids that lose out."