11/22/1994 SCHOOL - HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Minutes

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Steve thought the Committee should review the building plans - review the systems that they hope to include and explain them. The classroom wing : Steve suggests considering a fiber optic backbone (the main trunk of cables that all computers will be hooked onto) , if it can be afforded, for the fastest speed and best expansion capabilities for the future. Each classroom will be the "branches of a tree" off of the backbone. Wiring closets are located at the juncture points of each wing . Could place the file servers in these wiring closets? The rooms are big enough. They could be put in a centrally located point in the building but the problem is 600-800 feet of run . Michael Pare debated this description - this is a misconception of the entire design concept for network infrastructure. He does not think the Committee should talk a lot about the infrastructure until someone (consultant) can design the system. Steve said he is just providing concepts for the Committee to review. Steve said the Committee will want to identify what type of cable to put in the building . Michael Pare said the hubs will be joined together with fiber. Steve suggested there will be multiple hubs. Michael Pare said everything has to run to 1 central hub. Servers can be placed anywhere. Paul thought the original concept would be 4 hub locations in the school , 2 on each floor. Michael Pare said this school can be designed with 2 hubs . Paul said the Committee wants to be sure the physical plant is adequate the way it is presently designed. When he talked with the electrical engineers, they discussed a design that is not showing on these drawings or in the specs . Michael said the Committee will have to specify where they want the data outlets to go in each classroom, offices , etc . Paul said there will be 4-5 computer station in all classrooms. He suggested adding a few extra jacks for the eventual use of lap tops. Dr. DeMoura said the database in the school should be accessible to everyone - either with their own laptop or home call in. What applications do you think will be running in a typical classroom? Dr. DeMoura said the use of textbooks in the future will diminish. The vision , for education , is that technology will be the main basis for learning. More learning will happen from places other than the classroom- at home, library , other places in the building . It will be less teacher centered more student centered . Merry Sue explained with intensive scheduling , kids will be in a class for 90 minutes - it will be a student centered classroom with a lot of different things going on . Paul asked if they have any concept of what the programs are that teachers will be using . What does it take to run them? Dr. DeMoura said they could list the software but by next year it will be outdated . Paul said his concern is that if you change software, a lot of computers 2