27 Apr 2000
Approximately 250 district families will receive donated computers and training on their use. The donation and training is part of the Connect-A-Student to Technology (CAST) Program which brings refurbished computers to DISD students for home use. Equipment distribution and training will be Saturday, April 29, at Service Center II, 3701 S. Lamar, (I-45 South, exit west on Lamar St.).
Parents and students from W. T. High School and Boude Storey Middle School will receive the donated technology at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. Also participating in the event are representatives from Corel Corporation, HiFusion, Inc., Excel Communications, Inc. and Sea Land Services, Inc. who have contributed equipment and services to the CAST program.
"Our goal is to make it possible for every family in the school district to own a computer," said General Superintendent Dr. Waldemar Rojas. "We can't stress enough the importance of having the appropriate tools at home for children to succeed in the classroom and in the marketplace."
CAST was recently created by the district's Technology Outreach Program to improve student literacy and students' computer use and proficiency. The program allows students at selected schools to take donated computers home and provides them connectivity to the school and to the Internet for curriculum enhancement. In addition, parents will have the ability to hear from the teacher via regular teacher to parent e-mails.
Ira Fishman, HiFusion CEO, stressed the importance of businesses working together to increase school and student participation in the Information Age. "The CAST project is one of the true exemplars of the creativity and passion school leaders are demonstrating in bridging the digital divide. Every one at HiFusion believes that schools that take the leadership role in this critical task will reshape the entire learning community and dramatically increase the success our children will experience today and in the future."
Corel Corporation, has donated approximately 2,000 software copies of WordPerfect Office 2000 for Linux and the Corel Linux OS for the Cast Program.
"Corel is delighted to make investments like this one in the education community," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and Chief Executive Officer of Corel Corporation. "We understand that schools don't have a lot of money to invest in technology. But, at the same time, students must be familiar with leading-edge technology like Linux to be well prepared for the highly-competitive marketplace. We feel our Linux operating system and the products Corel has designed to run on Linux are ideally suited for the academic setting because they provide a low-cost, secure and stable environment for learning.
DISD's Hillcrest High School recently received a gift of 84 computers from Excel Communications, Inc. Company representatives will be at the distribution and parent training on Saturday.