11/15/1994 SCHOOL - HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Minutes

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Merry Sue likes this solution . Connecting doors between classrooms is an important issue to the teachers . TECHNOLOGY Steve said he and Mike had a meeting and they now have a better idea of the absolute base requirements for wiring. There is still a question as to who to use for a consultant for the next step . They think Childs is a light weight for what we want. Technology subcommittee will ask the Committee to find another consultant to carry us through the next phase. Paul suggests the Committee proceed in hiring Tavaras Design Associates but for the technology scope -- wait. John Childs has completed his recommendation under his current contact. He was only to recommend an overall scope of technology. Childs said he passed a sample RFP and computer technology plan to Dr. DeMoura and he will also be sending it to Paul . Dr . DeMoura said he hasn ' t seen anything . Paul suggested this Committee take one meeting to discuss only technology issues; to get an understanding of what the Committee wants. Paul said Childs ' theory is lap tops will begin to phase in . How many years is the question. He thinks PCs have only a 5 year life cycle . He suggests schools provide "slots" for hook ups of lap tops. Our library , as designed , has no provision for lap tops . Ed said they are designing an Arts and Science Center and it is being wired so every chair in the school has the capacity to be connected to the local network . They arrived at the same conclusion - kids now carry lap tops . Dr. DeMoura said lap tops is a good discussion but he does not foresee a lot of children in this community having lap tops in the next 5 years . Paul said Mashpee has 5 years from approval of this project to spend all the money. We should only buy technology that is needed for day 1 and then , by year 5 , if there is a drastic re-thinking in educational technology , the School Department can make the adjustment. Steve agreed devoting a meeting to technology is a good idea. He said even the connections under chairs for lap tops in 5 years will be obsolete. They have to put in the base systems that will last the longest and that is fairly easy to do. Paul spoke with someone at Bell Labs who is willing to be available, by phone, for questions during the Committee 's discussion . The Committee has to narrow down what they want in a technology consultant. What do we think we need? You can then determine where Childs stands . Steve said there are a few things to be addressed immediately that effect costa Paul said the Committee should first use Childs fully to the contract he has been paid - to extract ideas. The Committee and the Superintendent must then know and have a vision of what they want and how to run the school and then they can begin to address it. Ed Frenette said they are doing 4 high schools now and technology is a big problem for everyone. 5