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The NVPCUG Computers-to-Schools Program is now under way, following our board of directors= recent adoption of my implementation proposal. Thanks to a major donation of equipment by Dey, L.P., a $10,000 grant from The Dey Community Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation of the Napa Valley, and collaboration with local education and recycling agencies, we=ll be able to donate about 100 Pentium II computer systems with software to Napa County schools. The purpose of the program is to provide refurbished computer systems to Napa County public schools and education centers in order to enhance the classroom learning experiences of children. Through community donations of reusable equipment, use of grant funds, and our volunteer efforts, this program will improve education environments without impacting already overburdened school and education center budgets. The program complements and advances our traditional education program by promoting the reuse of older computer equipment, enhancing computer-assisted instruction in schools, and generating public awareness of our activities. The potential benefits of this program to our community and our personal computer users group are significant. While the Computers-to-Schools Program is new, the concept has actually been discussed by our board of directors for two years. What finally prompted action was the receipt of a significant number of computers that could meet the Napa Valley Unified School District=s minimum computer configuration standard: Pentium II computer with 64MB RAM, a CD-ROM drive, any version of Microsoft Windows, and application software appropriate for a classroom. On August 23, Dey, L.P., a Napa-based developer and manufacturer of generic prescription drugs for the treatment of respiratory-related diseases and allergies, gave us nearly 100 Pentium II computers, most of which, with the addition of operating system upgrades and application software, are suitable for classroom use. Although we had previously received sizeable equipment donations from Dey in October 2000 and again last May, none of the computers were suitable for classrooms. Many were sold at our two used computer equipment sales to raise funds to support our educational activities. Dey also encouraged our application for a grant, aware that we could not afford the high cost of software for 100 computers. Our grant proposal was approved in September. Representatives of Dey and the Community Foundation of the Napa Valley will formally present the grant check at our October meeting. Here=s a brief outline of how the Computers-to-Schools Program will work: The NVPCUG will continue to accept donations of computer equipment from corporations and individuals. We=ll check and test the equipment to determine if it can be refurbished to meet minimum school standards. As necessary, we=ll clean the computers, repartition and format hard drives, replace bad drives, and install memory expansion boards and other parts, cannibalizing less desirable computers. We=ll group the equipment to create complete computer systems. If additional system components are needed, we=ll attempt to obtain them from nearby organizations offering computer reuse and recycling services. In order to take advantage of major discount prices allowed under volume purchasing and licensing agreements available to public education agencies, we=ll authorize schools to purchase specific software and then, using grant funds, reimburse them. Equipment deemed unsuitable for schools will be sold at future used computer equipment sales or sent for materials recycling. With very few exceptions, we will not need to install software or set up systems. Napa County Office of Education and local school district computer technicians familiar with specific school site and classroom requirements will handle those tasks. All system deliveries will be on an Aas ready@ basis. The selection of recipients for computer systems will be made by the NVPCUG, based on school requests and our own interests. We have already received requests for more than 100 computers from schools in all five Napa County school districts and from those administered by the Napa County Office of Education. Jan Sabo, NCOE Director of Curriculum and Instruction, is assisting us in developing a list of possible recipients prioritized by greatest need based on several criteria. The selection of recipients will be somewhat complicated because different school sites are using different versions of Windows, the choice of application software can vary by classroom, and the donation computers are not all configured alike and thus all are not capable of running the same software. The average expense per computer for software will be about $100. By purchasing under the Microsoft volume license agreements held by the Napa Valley Unified School District and the Napa County Office of Education, any version of Windows--even Windows 3.x--can be upgraded to Windows XP for only $50.73 and application software such as Microsoft Office XP Professional can be installed for only $47.88. All expenditures will be preapproved by our board of directors. Most of the computers recently received from Dey require no refurbishing other than cleaning. Dey made a special effort to ensure the equipment is in good operating condition to facilitate its reuse in schools. Since very few monitors came with the computers, however, we need to obtain nearly 100 monitors. Both the Computer Recycling Center--a Santa Rosa-based statewide not-for-profit operation--and the Napa Garbage Service, with whom we have cosponsored recycling events, have agreed to provide without charge monitors that have been donated for reuse or collected for material recycling. Many of the monitors in the latter category are actually still useable and in good condition. One question often asked is AWhy don=t businesses donate their >obsolete= computer equipment directly to schools?@ The answer, quite simply, is that businesses don=t want to invest the time necessary to prepare the equipment for donation and to locate needy schools. It=s much more cost-efficient for them to give their used equipment to a not-for-profit organization such as ours that is providing donation services--or to just send it to a materials recycler. Although some NVPCUG members have already signed up to help with activities, additional volunteers are needed to serve on the program planning and coordination committee and to help prepare equipment for donation. Work parties are now being scheduled. We also need donations of out-of-use licenses for full-package versions of Microsoft Windows and other software purchased from a retail store or preinstalled on a computer that has been replaced. The hard drives on many of the computers we receive have been wiped, removing all operating system and application software. Using donated licenses, we can avoid the considerable expense of purchasing full-package products and instead use low-cost upgrade products. As noted above, with a donated license, schools can upgrade any version of Windows to Windows XP for only $50.73 plus tax. If you are able to help, want to donate a license, or have any questions about the Computers-to-Schools Program, please contact Orion E. Hill by calling (707) 252-0637 or sending e-mail to ohill@napanet.net. Sign up to help and join one of our pizza work parties!
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