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Connect With Kids -- Volunteer to Wire a School on NetDay, October 25, 1997We'll Teach You How in Our Free Workshop on September 6, 1997 |
SourceNetDay
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SAN FRANCISCO, July 22, 1997 -- Employees at Barrett Elementary School, located in the South Los Angeles Federal Empowerment Zone, knew they needed to upgrade their school's technology if they were to give their students a quality education. But they had no expertise, and, more importantly, they had no money. Today, Barrett has its own ISDN line, twenty-four computers, and a brand new computer lab. And 15 of its 40 classrooms are wired to the Internet. How did a school with so few resources accomplish so much in so short a time? Volunteers, community support, and NetDay. NetDay is the grassroots effort to network K-12 schools using volunteer labor and donated materials. Organizers estimate that since the first NetDay in 1996 more than 150,000 K-12 classrooms have been wired by NetDay volunteers in what's been called a "high-tech barnraising." Deborrah Holland, Barrett's Technology Coordinator, says, "The volunteers have been working at our school on Saturdays since May 2. I'm happy to say that with community support the first phase of our network is on-line. Our goal is to have our entire school wired by October 25, 1997 -- NetDay." To prepare for the NetDay: "Connect with Kids" wiring date on October 25, 1997, NetDay is producing a satellite-distributed workshop, scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 1997, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. NetDay experts will discuss everything you need to know about organizing a NetDay in your school; funding and in-kind contribution opportunities from corporate, foundation, and government sources; and how to apply for the E-rate (Universal Service) discounts. Visit http://www.netday.org/info_usa/workshop.html for an agenda and information on how to view the workshop. Michael Kaufman of PBS, who co-founded NetDay with John Gage of Sun Microsystems, says, "NetDay is not just about making connections to the Internet. It's about making and strengthening connections between people who share a common goal: to provide the best possible education for our children." For more information on NetDay, access their Web site at http://www.netday.org. CONTACT: Ann Murphy or Teresa Wann of NetDay, 415-553-2311, or netday@netday.org |