Saratoga News

Jay T. Harris

Schools celebrate with a Grand Prix

District close to connecting schools on the Internet

By Tim Persyn

If knowledge is power, then the world will soon belong to the students of the Saratoga Union School District.

The district is very near to connecting all its schools to the Internet, which provides world-wide access to information. The district celebrated the technological progress it has made with its Technology Grand Prix event, held April 20.

This celebration acknowledged all the individuals and companies that donated time and equipment to the cause of getting the schools hooked up, and included a breakfast and a keynote address by Jay T. Harris, publisher of the San Jose Mercury News.

"The event is a chance to thank all those who have contributed to getting us on the Internet and getting us networked," said district superintendent Mary Gardner.

Notably, the district's hookup to the Internet is proceeding quickly and well ahead of schedule. Gardner said the district developed the goal a year ago that within three years it could be networked and on the Internet. She said the project has progressed quickly.

"Energetic people came together and made it happen," she said. "It's been a cooperative involving business, parents, staff and the board. There's been a lot of energy and, as a consequence, synergy."

The entities that have contributed to getting the district connected include companies as large as Hewlett-Packard, which has helped procure equipment; individuals such as Ford Johnson, who has donated significant amounts of time; and Cindy Ruby, president of the school board. In addition, the Saratoga Education Foundation helped raise money, while the District Technology Committee helped coordinate the project.

School board member Peggy Koen described the community effort involved in hooking up the district: "People have worked weekends and nights to get things installed."

She summarized how far the district has come in bringing technology to its students: "We have mentor teachers who are integrating technology into the curriculum. Our schools will be on the Internet. The Grand Prix is a recognition of how far we've come."