News

School district spending $287,000 for upgrade

By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:34 AM EDT

Dowagiac Board of Education Monday night approved spending $287,000 on the WAN, or "wide area network" discussed at the Sept. 20 meeting to provide faster computer connections between buildings - particularly with the new middle school ready for occupancy in June.

The district currently has 56k connections from every building except Union High. It already had to add digital subscriber lines (DSL) at Central and the bus garage and maintenance buildings, but these only provide Internet access - not to each other.

A WAN boosts bandwidth and, hence, speed, eliminates recurring fees for leased lines and increases the abilities of Dowagiac's network in terms of reliable connections to the Internet, e-mail, ability to use streaming throughout the school system, library services, food services and voice, data and video capabilities.

Centralizing file servers, backup of critical information and network management would also decrease ongoing operational costs, according to Dwayne A. Henderson, Fanning/Howey Associates educational technology designer and project manager, and Randy Gross, Dowagiac technology coordinator.

They cite faster connections, better service throughout the district, lower operational costs and keeping pace with future growth, such as centralized video mail, as WAN benefits.

They investigated several options, evaluated current and future needs and compared costs to conclude that "fiber is the obvious choice."

"Fiber will provide the greatest speeds and greatest flexibility for the Dowagiac Union Schools," Henderson said.

"At McKinley, for instance, they're putting in a lab, but it's going to be somewhat stifled in what it can do," Gross said. "There's just no bandwidth to get out to the Internet. If you have three computers trying to get out at once, it's all over. You're going nowhere, slowly."

Gross said the district is fighting a "nine-front war" against computer viruses, but the WAN, with one point of Internet entry, will be easier to police effectively.

Gross also likened the WAN versus the current computer configuration as the difference between an interstate and dirt roads.

Connectivity also becomes an issue in Dowagiac schools maintaining contact with the Berrien County Intermediate School District, which does the district's student accounting.

In addition to the $287,000 from fund equity, there will also be a one-time cost of installing switches estimated at $1,500 per building.

Another cost associated with the WAN solution is renting poles which carry the cable - pegged at $200 a month. But that's cheaper than the $2,000 a month Dowagiac pays for Internet access, according to Hal Davis, assistant superintendent for business and operations.

In other business Oct. 25 at Patrick Hamilton Middle School the school board:

€ Decided to conduct annual school board elections in May as part of the state's new election consolidation law taking effect in 2005. Action came following a public hearing at which no comments were heard.

€ Learned it will probably have $600,000 to add items to the middle school project, which remains on schedule. Board members were furnished by Fanning/Howey architect Scott Winchester with a list of possibilities to personally prioritize for the next work session so that action can be taken Nov. 15. Possibilities include an auditorium acoustical shell, athletic field lighting, technology, furnishings and more land.

€ Named Union High teacher Mike Behnke varsity softball coach.

€ Made extra-curricular appointments, including technology building representatives, Patti Amundsen, Sister Lakes; Jodi Badder, alternative education; Frank Barker, Justus Gage; Katrina Daiga, Kincheloe; Kelley Brooks, Union High; Judy Bussler, McKinley; Dave Joling, Patrick Hamilton; and Diane Petlick, Central Middle; Science Olympics and clubs, Nancy Crowl, Justus Gage (Science Olympics); Lynn Steil, Central (Science Olympics); Pat Maxey, Central (Science Club); Pat Lyle, Union High (Science Club); and Kelly Cromer, Central (Honors Club); and freshman class sponsor, parent Kellie Prak.

€ Granted tenure to McKinley teacher Jenny Tobin. She successfully completed four years of probationary teaching and has consistently received positive yearly evaluations from Principal Kay Tularak.

€ Appointed Robin Ennesser as Dowagiac's parent representative to the Lewis Cass Intermediate School District's Parent Advisory Council. She and her husband Donald have children in three buildings, Patrick Hamilton, Central Middle and DUHS.

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