Wiring for Computers Called Top Priority for Schools

SIMI VALLEY — Installing computer wiring at schools and replacing outmoded equipment should top the Simi Valley Unified School District’s technology agenda, Administrative Director Lowell Schultze said at Wednesday’s annual Wood Ranch retreat.

For about $2.1 million, by the end of the next school year, students in each classroom could conduct Internet research and teachers could e-mail ideas to colleagues.

“Every classroom could have Internet access,” Schultze told trustees at the daylong planning session. “Every classroom could have [computer] contact with any other school in the district. Every classroom teacher could have access to important student information [and] attendance information.”

Right now, he said, most Simi Valley schools have only one computer with Internet access.

“You have a single-user system, so only one person can use the Internet at a time,” Schultze said.

Although trustees aren’t expected to vote on it for about a month, the technology proposal entails installing high-speed computer wiring in all 26 Simi Valley schools, at a cost of about $1.8 million.

Trustees Carla Kurachi and Diane Collins wondered why the wiring couldn’t be installed for less by volunteers with computer acumen.

“What about the parents who want to do it?” Kurachi asked.

While volunteerism is always welcome, it isn’t always practical, Schultze responded. Volunteer work doesn’t come with a maintenance warranty, he said. And allowing volunteers to perform mechanical work can expose the school district to liability.

Schultze’s proposal also calls for replacing an outdated mainframe computer--which contains testing, personnel, attendance and maintenance information for the entire district--at a cost of about $335,000.

“Didn’t we just buy the mainframe we have now?” Collins asked.

The present mainframe is only six years old, Schultze confirmed. But it would cost more to maintain and upgrade the current mega-computer than to purchase a new one.

“This is typical of the way technology is going,” board President Norm Walker said. “It’s cheaper to buy the new than to upgrade the old.”

Because the board has already budgeted for computer wiring and maintenance of a mainframe computer, neither proposal would change the school district’s budget, according to Dave Kanthak, business services director.

The only proposal that would affect the budget is Schultze’s suggestion to hire a mainframe programmer, a support engineer and three school site computer trainers. The additional staffing changes would cost about $225,000 a year.