Ways to Maximize Our Technology Budget

As a parent of three children in the Gold Lake district and a member of the PTO, I feel that it is absolutely imperative that this referendum passes. Even if it does, we need to do everything we can to use the funding we have to the maximum extent possible. Recently, I ran across a very short but effective article on how to do this. This article was in the January 29th edition of Computer World magazine, and was written by Opinion columnist Paul Lamb. (see the bottom of this post for the full citation).

Lamb lists the following ideas as ways to maximize technology budgets:

1. Investing in simple, affordable tools
   A laptop that costs a mere $100 is in productive for developing countries. Why could we not tap this resource?
2. Partner with local technology businesses
   Contact local technology businesses to see if they might be willing to help the district purchase the hardware and software it needs. Then, the school would provide the business advertising by posting signs that say the technology was donated by _________. We also might consider contacting national programs (such as the Gates Foundation).
3. Develop a website that explains how technology is improving learning in the our classrooms.
   This website would feature student products and testimonies from teachers and students, as well as research that shows why technology is beneficial for learning. We might also consider starting a sponsorship program on this sight, where community members can see the unmet technology needs within the district and have an opportunity to donate money toward that need.

In addition to these ideas, Lamb also states that there a variety of resources to help groups apply these methods. These resources include foundations, university based research and development programs, technology companies, community technology programs, state and local technology task forces, among others.

The most important point I raise in bringing this article to the public attention is that we must show our opponents that we are not simply beggars or moochers who try to squeeze every penny from everybody else and then spend it frivolously. We need to demonstrate that we are doing all we can to keep new technology in our schools, but need the funding from the referendum to assist us in doing so!

Sincerely,

Erin Smith

Full Article Citation

Lamb, P. (2007). Us, Not You, for Person of the Year. Computer World, 41(5), 22-23.