Janesville School District: 'Dying' computer equipment poses risk
JANESVILLE — Hundreds of pieces of Janesville School District computer equipment are outdated and need replacement, district officials say, and they are working on a plan to do that.
Robert Smiley, the district's new chief information officer, presented a detailed inventory of computer equipment and infrastructure to a school board committee Tuesday night.
The district also released a statement in conjunction with the presentation. The statement says many desktop computers are more than seven years old and in need of replacement.
"Monitors are dying, keyboards are failing and graphics cards are outdated," according to the statement. "Student achievement could potentially be compromised due to the inefficiencies of these desktop computers. Newer software and today's complex websites do not function properly on outdated computers."
The statement says budget constraints have kept the district from replacing computers in recent years.
Smiley told the committee that $1.8 million would be needed in the next budget to replace aging technology. That includes replacing 1,909 of the total 4,309 computer workstations, 309 of the 1,011 laptop computers and 144 of the 1,210 iPads.
Not a part of Smiley's report is what the district might do to improve computer access for students and staff. Some schools have more SMART Boards and iPads than other schools, so equity is an issue, Smiley said.
Smiley said he would bring a recommendation for equity and for growth in computing devices to the board, probably in April.
Smiley said a teacher sent him a note Tuesday referring to the fact that the Parkview School Board just approved a plan to borrow money to provide one iPad per student in grades 7-12 over the next three years.
Smiley said his response was that he doesn't know how Parkview plans to replace those iPads as they age.
"In Janesville, we're trying to grow, but we're going to grow wisely, so we know that we can sustain it," he said.
One other hint about improving computer access: Smiley said the district needs to buy 222 more SMART Boards so that every classroom in the district has one. That would cost more than $500,000, he estimated.
No one at the meeting questioned the assumption that computer technology is vital to a 21st century education.
"The School District of Janesville has realized that failure to make technology integral to teaching and learning will render current educational approaches irrelevant to students," according to the statement.
Also not considered on Tuesday were the district's software needs. Smiley plans to present them to the committee next month.
Among other items, Smiley told the committee that the district should:
-- Consider replacing its 15-year-old telephone system.
-- Add 48 wireless access points to fill holes in wireless Internet coverage.
In a separate conversation, Smiley told The Gazette that officials are considering adding Chromebooks to the district's computer arsenal. Chromebook is a laptop-like product that runs Google software.
Feb 21, 2013 at 10:12 p.m.
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Will all the new stuff be bought by another straw buyer? Like the last time Janesville tried this?
Feb 21, 2013 at 9:25 p.m.
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Jasonth- Good comment and TCB- Earth moving(ditch digging)equipment in today's world is highly digitalized and usually people have to complete a course to even be considered for a job. It's a wonderful field and more people should consider going to school for it. Prior computer knowledge is a must.
Feb 21, 2013 at 8:22 p.m.
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TCB so you're saying I shouldn't aim for a better life than my parents or their parents? You go dig a ditch, I'll be a first gen college graduate, earn more money and pay more taxes.
Forward... Together.
Feb 21, 2013 at 6:02 p.m.
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carlito.
The world need ditch diggers. Education? Look at Janesville-only 20% of adults have a college degree. Let me explain-this means that 80% do not.
Feb 21, 2013 at 3:29 p.m.
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Thank Walker and his cuts Janesville like many other Wisconsin communities Have to short change the Children because he has no education to speak of, [kicked out of College] he cannot comprehend the needs in this day and age,. To those of you that don't see this technology as essential to children GET A CLUE,,,, Get rid of your computer and then those that do see the need, do not have to see your ignorance in comments...
Feb 21, 2013 at 1 p.m.
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Do people realize in 2014-15 the state is making kids take the Smarter Balanced Testing. http://www.smarterbalanced.org/ which requires the test to be taking on a technology device. http://www.smarterbalanced.org/resources...
Feb 21, 2013 at 12:12 p.m.
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The problem with so-called modern technology is as soon as they buy the newest most updated anything within 6 months to a year it is already outdated!
Feb 21, 2013 at 12:11 p.m.
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Chromebooks would be an inexpensive, portable option that would be viable in certain areas that don't need a full fledged laptop (at twice the cost when you add in the laptop, antivirus software, office software, management software, and ongoing updating).
Feb 21, 2013 at 12:08 p.m.
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The idea is to put kids on technology that they will consistently use throughout their education, at home, and later in life.
For all of the people bashing this idea, you are all the same people I've had to help retrain later in life because someone computerized your office or workshop and now you have to use something you know nothing about other than Farmville or Facebook. This isn't school circa 1963.
Grow up. The school district of Janesville is already on less than a shoestring budget. This is not wasteful spending. These big purchases are because they have no budget to maintain existing hardware with skilled staff, ongoing training, and rotate out retired hardware on a controlled and timely basis.
Feb 21, 2013 at 11:11 a.m.
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Gee...and what's wrong with Apple IIE's? lol!
Feb 21, 2013 at 11:06 a.m.
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Bond and Nukka_70, when these kids get out into the modern work force one day, I don't think their brains and cursive handwriting will be much help if they have no clue how to use modern equipment.
Jobs go to people who are trained to do them. The school district will be doing a disservice to these children if they do not update the equipment.
Feb 21, 2013 at 10:20 a.m.
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chell,
Google docs are compatible with MS office platforms-and they are free. If you use an iPad-forget about MS office platform. MSFT is or will produce an office version for the iPad, android, etc-as they are losing $billions in this space. Surface tablets will continue to take share from laptops, etc and MSFT may miss out on this wave. Chell, the need to use MS office may have been true 10 years ago but not today.
Feb 21, 2013 at 9:59 a.m.
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Chromebooks would be a waste of money. Kids need technology that will provide programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc. that are used in the everyday world. They will need to know how to use these programs in college, personal life, and career. Ipads would be more useful than Chromebooks.
Feb 20, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.
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And I suppose we should replace the school buses with horses and buggies too ?!? Come on, people - students need up-to-date technology to learn what they need to become productive adults. Yes, it costs money. Get over it.
Feb 20, 2013 at 5:13 p.m.
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WANTS VS NEEDS.
Feb 20, 2013 at 5 p.m.
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TOTALLY Agree Bond!!!! It's pretty sad when they dont teach "cursive" handwriting any more and kids dont know how to read it either!! Keyboard and spell check takes care of that, right!! grrr
Feb 20, 2013 at 4:35 p.m.
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It's amazing to see all the *good* computers that get sold at UW-SWAP up in Madison. I think they're all better than my 7 year old PC. I've seen people leaving with multiple grocery carts filled with them. If someone needs a decent computer, check them out.
http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/computer...
Feb 20, 2013 at 4:28 p.m.
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Let them die, then maybe the kids would learn how to use the computer between their ears !
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