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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."
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."
School Board members agree that the district can't afford to wait a decade to update the fastest-changing technology in the curriculum. They plan to meet with district administrators at 2 p.m. today at the board offices, 1980 Landings Blvd., to discuss alternatives.
"You can't go 10 years without replacing computers in a classroom. You just can't," board member Larry Helmuth said. "You're going to have to find a plan B, C, and D, and figure out something else."
The School Board has dedicated millions of dollars to continually update technology since state lawmakers first set aside money for that purpose in 1984. But a $7 million shortfall in the district this year and fears of larger shortages in the future have made officials consider trimming their budgets for new equipment and technology for the next 10 years.
The cuts mean that schools could replace some aging computers, but they would have no money left to add new technology. School officials say until now they have stayed ahead of the technology curve.
The county has one computer for every three students, which is better than the state and national averages, said Ron McCord, the district's director of technology and information services.
Although all schools have aging computers, McCord says each has newer, faster ones that work well with the Internet. He estimates the district has one fast computer for every 11 students.
Sarasota County's 34,000 students have computer access in classrooms, media centers or computer labs. All but one school in Sarasota County will have Internet access in its classrooms by next school year.
The School Board also budgets about $2 million each year to replace its oldest computers.
| Staff writer Jill Barton can be contacted at 363-5507 or |
Copyright Sarasota Herald Tribune Mar 15, 2000