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LPS computer steering panel has potential

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Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 - 12:52:52 am CDT

Credit Lincoln Public School Board member Richard Meginnis for coming up with a good idea to help the school system develop a clearer and better policy on computer purchases.

Meginnis last month suggested that a steering committee including community members be created to help guide the district.

The board this summer approved a budget for next year that calls for spending $1 million to buy an estimated 980 laptop computers for students to take new statewide tests.

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The testing is not slated to begin for three years, but state officials want to conduct a pilot test in reading next fall.

The district’s budget also includes an additional $703,990 to purchase computers for teachers.

There’s no question that the school district needs computers. A policy framework to guide those purchases would help the district get the most value for its money. For example, the district might be able to save hundreds of dollars per laptop if the laptops don’t need to handle video and similarly challenging tasks.

Meginnis’s idea already has drawn support from the Lincoln Independent Business Association. In a July 14 Local View column, Wanda L. Caffrey, chair of LIBA’s school liaison committee, supported creation of an “IT steering committee” to determine “the educationally sufficient ratio of PCs per student,” among other goals.

LPS now has about 5,600 computers for nearly 34,000 students, according to board member Don Mayhew.

LPS Superintendent Susan Gourley said Monday that she has been mulling over the idea and is seriously considering putting a group together with board approval.

She said the district has benefited from a similar approach in the past. When the district constructs new school buildings it has turned to a construction review committee made up of volunteer Lincoln residents with expertise in engineering, architecture, construction and finance.

The proposed IT steering committee could bring similar community expertise to bear on formation of a policy on computers.

Computers have become such a pervasive commodity that opinions and consumer loyalties abound in the community. What workplace hasn’t experienced a debate or two between Mac users and PC users? The district’s $1 million laptop plan prompted outbursts of grousing here and there in the community.

As Gourley said, the proposed IT steering committee would be a good fit with the district’s tradition of seeking public engagement and involvement.

Formation of an understandable policy on the district’s goals for computer usage and acquisition would be advantageous on several levels. Taxpayers, students and staff would all benefit from additional clarity on the issue.


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ted wrote on July 22, 2008 8:49 am:
" Why should local taxpayers pay to give new computer to every LPS student and faculty member? "

 DBR wrote on July 22, 2008 9:59 am:
" Doesn't LPS have a well paid IT staff that should be able to handle this? Why is their answer to any oposition to through a "commity" together? "

 Big CHief wrote on July 22, 2008 9:59 am:
" I wonder how many of us have old computers that are perfectly capable of doing the work a student requires sitting in our closets just because we bought one with all the latest bells & whistles? Give tax deductions to those that donate these computers and set them all up with an operating system like Linnux that is free and open source and save millions of dollars for the taxpayers.

Some of the High School classes in computer sciences could gain valuable insight into the workings of a computer by setting these donated computers up for use. Free labor to LPS and a valuable educational experience for the students. WIN WIN. "

 BK wrote on July 22, 2008 10:55 am:
" Apparently all that enormous tax money is making LPS students pretty smart. Being new to town, I called some computer businesses to straighten
out my computer, none could figure out my PC problem except for Computer
Care. I had asked a bunch of college students who was good to work on
computers and they said they'd like to know that too because they said
none of the UNL computers work. I know alot of big companies with the
same problem, too many think they know it all and yet can't figure it out! "

 Grundle wrote on July 22, 2008 2:50 pm:
" "As Gourley said, the proposed IT steering committee would be a good fit with the district’s tradition of seeking public engagement and involvement."

What tradition!? They basically ignore the public and everyone else when making their decisions. Good thing I brought my hip waders, it's getting pretty deep here. "

 Not Elem wrote on July 22, 2008 3:29 pm:
" I see this is only for the high school students. I guess that's no surprise since the elementary computer teachers are being cut, slow but sure, by directive of the LPS district office. "

 Guillermo wrote on July 22, 2008 5:06 pm:
" First, I am sick and tired of LIBA running this city. Second, the ratio of computers to students should be 1:1. Students should be required to have a laptop computer meeting specifications deemed to be sufficient for the technology in use. Families that can afford to purchase the computer for their school age child would then be able to deduct the entire amount from their taxes or should somehow benefit from their circumstances. Those who cannot afford the purchase of the computer will have one provided on sliding fee scale. Any and all damage will be repaired at student and/or parent's expense.

Technology is the way of the world and I see far too many high school grads without basic PC skills and nowadays the ability to proficiently use a computer and standard office productivity applications are as important as the "Big Three" (reading, writing, and arithmetic). LIBA of all groups should recognize this. After all, their members are hiring our graduates. If LIBA wants to be part of the solution by providing guidance as to the direction of LPS technical initiatives then I am in favor of their input. If LIBA just wants to complain, then I say stop standing in the way of our student's success. "

 sub wrote on July 22, 2008 5:55 pm:
" As a substitute teacher I know first hand that we don't always have enough computers for the number of students in class. There are times you just have to hope you have enough absences to allow everyone else to have a computer. The computers some of the teachers have are so old it is a shame. I know there has been an effort to improve these problems, but we really do need more computers in our schools. I cannot tell you how many parents I have talked to, who moved to Nebraska from other states, and think LPS is far beyond other areas of the country in education. Using computers for State Testing would be a great idea. The foresight our administration has for future improvements is something we should be proud of. "

 Citizen wrote on July 22, 2008 9:40 pm:
" Ditto to DBR ! LPS does have a very talented, capable and Professional IT department that was hired to make decisions like this using sound technical and educational reasoning. The idea of an IT steering committee is pretty much saying to an IT department that is respected throughout the state "you don't know what you are doing and we know better".

The role of the Board of Education is to set policy and it is the role of the hired staff (Superintendent on down) to implement that policy and run the day to day operations of the school district. I think the Board needs a refresher in what their role is.

Is the next step a steering committee for the LPS Human Resources department on how to hire teachers and staff, a steering committee to set curriculum.

Where was a call for a steering committee to tell the LPS Food Service Department how to do their job when the students were complaining about the quality of food. I sure LIBA thinks they have people that know how to run a school district food service department better.

I am all for responsibility and accountability from the School District but that does not mean the LIBA should be micro-managing the School Board and the School Board Should be mirco-managing the Professionals hired to run the day to day operations of the district.

Finally sorry to say to the LIBA "know-it alls", you may be good at running your business but that does not automatically mean that you know the best way to run our government and our schools. The citizens of Lincoln still out number the members of LIBA and I do not recall electing you to speak for me. "

 whatever wrote on July 22, 2008 9:56 pm:
" The idea of a school system purchasing computers for every student is repulsive. But "Guillermo" brings up valid points. It is reading, writing, arithmetic and IT. Every student should have the opportunity to become technology proficient, provided it is the "right" technology and not computer games and personal profile websites. I would submit that the state provide laptops to EVERY high school student in the state, ALL of them. Frankly it's a necessity and if the business community expects students to be IT literate then they need to pony up the money through higher taxes. Business doesn't have a problem sucking funds through TIF's and various credits business shouldn't have a problem with this. "

 LIBA wrote on July 22, 2008 10:07 pm:
" interesting that LIBA's opinion is so valued when the FAILURE rate of most businesses is incredibly high - just google business failure rate for more info - yeah we want to listen to anything LIBA thinks! "

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