Colina's hard drive for computers pays off
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers COMPUTER MANIA- Colina Middle School student body president Lovell Hairston, left, helps unload a recent shipment of computers for the school. Sandra Kennedy, second from left, of Technology Vision fundraisers; PTSA president Kathleen Woodward; Colina Principal Mike Waters, right, and counselor Sam Kane all pitch in to help unload computers that were purchased through "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" fundraiser project.

When the students of a local middle school return to class after winter break they may be surprised to see many of their slow, outdated computers replaced by state-of-the-art Dell machines.

The Colina Middle School PTSA has spent a year and a half fundraising in an effort to update the three computer labs, and this month marks a major step. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" campaign the PTSA spearheaded refers to the variety of computers offered to the students before this month's purchase of more than 70 Dell systems.

Marie Kennedy of Colina's PTSA said the plan was to ensure there would be a computer for every two to three of the 1,250 students at the school.

"High technology is so important for our youth today in terms of them being able to compete in the world," Kennedy said. "It helps them in preparing for better jobs, and the data shows that they do better in school academically when they have high technology tools."

Before the revamp, the computer labs contained a mixture of old and new, including 175 computers, many of which were five to seven years old and in desperate need of repair.

Kennedy said the systems were very slow to boot up and operate and the software was outdated.

"We could do some rudimentary programs, but the speed just wasn't there, and people were constantly clogging the network," said Sam Kane, Colina's technology director. "And now more and more types of software can be used for learning.

"A rep came in from Texas Instruments with calculators and a software component we can now hook up with it. There's nothing new about a calculator, but software that seamlessly links with computers- it makes a demonstration go from 20 minutes to two."

Last year the PTSA raised $20,000 for a computer on wheels program, which involved buying mobile laptops that can move from classroom to classroom. This year the group raised an additional $35,000 to update the labs.

The computer lab next to the library is completed, and the other two will be ready for the students after winter break. The teachers have already undergone training to use the new systems.

"The biggest thing is that this levels the playing field," Kennedy said. "Colina is unusual in the area in that it has 130 Englishlanguage learners, the highest in the district. And although a small group of parents do the fundraising, it benefits all the kids who get to use these hightechnology tools."

Kane said seven teachers have already gotten on board with a program called SuccessMaker, which is particularly effective in targeted instruction for English learners. With the increase in speed, Colina can also start using the language program Rosetta Stone.

"It allows for many technological uses by students," Kane said. "We get very diligent and creative in meeting those individual needs. These programs help develop skills that are very individualized and all technologybased. And now we have computers that will run them."

The group is still raising money because of the constant evolution of technology. They are also looking to reach out to the business community to be part of their adopt-a-classroom program.

"Because of the PTSA we now have relatively state-of-the-art computers that are 100 percent for student use, which is just absolutely wonderful," Kane said. "I'm just on cloud nine. It's such a benefit for all the students, especially for the kids that are struggling."