Many impacts if bond fails

Dear editor:

So far, you've heard all about the great things that will happen if the school bond passes next week.

However, you have probably NOT heard what will happen if the bond DOESN'T pass.

As the technology coordinator for the district, I am here to tell you that for the state of technology in our district, if the bond doesn't pass, the coming years will be grim.

The tech support staff for our district consists of 3.5 employees. We are responsible for maintaining the district network, approximately 1,400 computers, the phone and voicemail system, the district website, email, Parent Connect, as well as multiple software programs used by students and teachers.

With district money, we have been able to purchase approximately 200 new computers for the district each year (approximately one-seventh of our inventory). Even with this rate of rotation, the oldest machines in the district should be no more than seven years old. In technology years, that means they are very old!

In many cases, the software being used no longer functions on these older computers. They break down more often requiring more support than the newer computers. They are often so slow that they hinder rather than help with student learning, so teachers struggle with whether or not to even turn them on in their classrooms.

Computers in our district are heavily relied upon. Students use the computers and network daily for research, as well as for ISAT testing up to three times a year. Students use Plato, a supplemental curriculum, which also requires a computer. Library books are checked out through a computer. Sasi, our student information system, is stored and maintained on a computer. Parents are kept informed of their students' attendance, assignments, discipline and grades through ParentConnect -- a computer program. Teachers take attendance and keep their grades on their computers. Parents and principals correspond with teachers through district e-mail on a computer. Patrons are kept informed of district information via the school district website -- created and maintained on a computer. Teachers use many other supplemental software programs on their computers to help improve student learning in their classrooms.

If the bond doesn't pass, the district will be forced to reallocate funds normally earmarked for technology to pay for other more pressing concerns, such as replacing the roof on the current high school gym before it collapses. We will not be able to replace the older computers, and our computers will continue to break down due to age. We will not be able to purchase replacement parts for these broken computers, so many will become obsolete. Software will become unusable, and teachers will no longer be able to use some of their programs.

If the school bond does not pass next week, the loss of technology funding is just one of many program cuts that the district will face.

Although not directly funded by the school bond, the money usually earmarked for technology will be funneled into other projects and will no longer be available to help maintain the district computer network. Without the resources to keep the district network and computers up to date, everyone will suffer, including students, parents, teachers and administrators.

Please vote YES to help keep the district functioning in the 21st Century!

Kerri Reynolds