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New computers coming to McDonald High
By Mary Smith
McDONALD
The McDonald school board approved purchasing $48,473 worth of new computers and related equipment for a new computer lab at the high school.
The lab is two new rooms across from the principal’s office and is for the junior- and senior-high school students.
The district will upgrade its computer lab through the state Cooperative Purchasing Consortium, which the board joined recently, knowing the computer purchase was planned, treasurer Bill Johnson said.
The current computer lab has 25 computers in it at the high school.
Johnson noted that the state is forcing the district’s hand on upgrading computers because it will require that all students take the Ohio Achievement Tests by computer in 2015.
He noted, “This will make sure that students have some time taking online tests” before it is mandatory.
The computer lab at Roosevelt Elementary was upgraded last year, Johnson noted.
An estimated 50 computers will be purchased for the 50 work stations in the room.
Computers are being purchased at a cost of $37,724, and the remaining funds from the $48,473 total include ports for additional computers, LED HD televisions, printers, ceiling television mount kits for teachers’ classrooms and motion tilt/swivel wall mounts for the computer lab.
The high-school computer connection was changed from broadband to fiber-optic last summer.
The board voted Tom Hart as president and John Saganich as vice president. The board will meet at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month, except in February, when it will meet Feb. 10 because of Presidents Day.