Colorado Schools Welcomes DNC Computers | Nelson Garcia

Link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1862444,00.html

GOLDEN - The job of Jan Strand is to make sure all the technology is working at Golden High School. The building and grounds may be new, but the computers are not.

Follow up:

"Our server right now is very old, the teachers didn't have enough space," said Strand, technology coordinator for Golden High School.

The building was opened this year - a product of a 2004 bond issue. It is equipped with high-end infrastructure and wiring, but Strand does not have the computer equipment to fully utilize it.

Soon, that may all change.

Cisco Systems provided about $5 million worth of computer equipment and hardware for the Democratic National Convention. After tearing down the DNC, Cisco promised to donate it all to local schools. Strand just found out Golden High School will be getting about $150,000 in servers, switchers, routers, phones and services to maintain their new gear.

"I had no idea," said Strand when we told her the news. "Oh my gosh, would you like to get a shot of me doing a cartwheel?"

This past election, Jeffco Schools went to the voters for a $350 million bond issue and $34 million mill levy. District leaders were hoping to use some of that money to upgrade the technology and infrastructure at every school. But voters turned it down.

"So, any sort of outside contribution is wonderful," said Strand.

Jeffco Schools will get about $300,000 worth of equipment and services total from Cisco Systems. Golden High and Blue Heron Elementary will receive the donation and serve as a model for the rest of the district.

Brett Miller is the executive director of infrastructure for Jeffco Schools. Miller says the gift won't come close to meeting the district's needs, but it will be a big help for Golden and Blue Heron.

"Yeah, it's a big gift. It's something that we wouldn't have been able to afford," said Miller. "The fact that we didn't get those initiatives passed definitely impacted us and it's gonna hurt for some time."

When the equipment is installed, it will likely expand each school's computer memory capacity, make their computers have faster internet connections, and improve communications systems within the schools.

"This is actually brand new equipment out of the box with warranties. So, we get the full year of maintenance and everything that comes with it," said Miller. "It's allowing us to take advantage of our fiber network at the schools that we recently deployed."

Denver Public Schools will be receiving the majority of the donations. DPS Spokesman Alex Sanchez says the district will be receiving hundreds of phones and printers in addition to servers and switchers. But he says exact details and locations have not yet been worked out.

Cisco Systems hopes to have all the equipment delivered to the schools by the end of the year.

"This is huge," said Strand. "A server would cost us probably about $12,000 to $15,000 that we didn't really have the budget for."

Here is the full list of schools and organizations the equipment is going to:
Denver Public Schools
Denver Venture School
West Denver Prep
Colorado Springs District 11
Jefferson County Schools
Douglas County Schools
Weld RE4 School District
Town of Windsor
Pueblo Library
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver School of Science and Technology

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