GENEVA - - Cutting-edge technology in schools can make a difference in the future employability of students, Geneva schools director of technology Scott Huggins said.
Huggins presented the Geneva Board of Education with the hard facts about computer software during the BOE's monthly school board meeting Wednesday.
"I believe that you get what you pay for. And I feel that knowing the right software when going out into the business world, or to college, can prepare students properly," Huggins said. "There is a difference between knowing free software versions and knowing the professional versions, inside and out."
Classrooms will be provided with new software to help students prepare the Ohio Graduation Test, Spanish, English, math lessons and online encyclopedias, Huggins said.
Huggins installed 194 computers this year, replacing the district's 2003 hardware.
"Again, we are preparing for the financial unknown (in the district). If we replace one-third to one-fifth of the district's computers every three to five years, it won't be a huge ordeal if we have to skip a year," Huggins said.
Eighth-grade students will enjoy new computers in their classrooms this school year, Huggins said.
In addition to the computer replacements and upgrades, Huggins has extended the district's fiberoptic network and applied for high-speed Internet for all the district's schools. A federal program provides 75 percent of funds for such networks, Huggins said.
"All computers in the district are now upgraded to network compatibility. Though we are not approved yet for the high-speed Internet, the jump would increase the district's bandwidth for improvement in Internet speed and access," he said.
Huggins also installed a firewall to protect the school computers from viruses and to help monitor Internet traffic.
Forgetful students can't seem to remember their user names and passwords for the district's network, but Huggins has a solution to the password problem.
"I smirk about this a little because the network access program is something I was really excited about, and it has really failed," Huggins said. "The first thing we tell the students is not to write their password down, and then they forget it."
Now, when students are prompted to provide a password, an alternate screen will ask them a personal question. If the student answers the question correctly, their password will be provided, Huggins said.
"This promotes accountability, monitoring and personal file security for the students," he said.
Geneva schools go to the mattresses over flooring
By MARGIE TRAX PAGE
Staff Writer
mtrax@starbeacon.com
GENEVA - - After more than a year of problem-solving and compromise, the Geneva Board of Education will take contractor Blaze Construction Inc. to task over faulty flooring in the new high school.
"We have come to a turn of events on the issue of the linoleum flooring at the high school," Superintendent Ron Donatone said. "Now the board has to decide on action."
The floor is in a large area of the academic wing. For months, the board has heard reports of the linoleum pulling away from the floor. Patching has made the floor safe, but unsightly, Donatone said.
"I think the consensus of myself and the board is that though the floor is patched and can continue to be patched, the floor we paid for isn't really going to be the floor we got," he said.
In Wednesday's meeting, the board granted Donatone permission to ask Blaze Construction to replace the floor at a cost of $80,000 to $105,000.
"There is always pressure on the parties involved to avoid conflict and find a middle ground. But though the floor is safe, no one could predict the effect the patching would have on the look of the floor," Donatone said.
This isn't the first problem the district has had with Blaze Construction. The final touches on the new high school were made without the company and R.P. Carbone project manager Ben Pintabona used a different contractor to finish various Blaze Construction projects.
Donatone said the district can withhold $175,000 in payments not yet issued to Blaze Construction until the job is done right.
"If the contractor says no, we can get the job done with another company and backcharge the cost (to Blaze Construction)," Donatone said.
Blaze Construction representatives could not be reached for comment, Thursday.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 7/20/2007
