Channel 15

Have you ever watched our public access channel? Talk about an underused, valuable marketing tool. I have asked the administration why we are not putting real student centered content on this channel and the response is who will do it.How about our AV guy or the newly hired communications specialist. Instead of wasting resources pushing the competitive edge scam lets focus on making this channel truly special. Lets designate air time for each high school to create broadcast ready content every week. In fact every school in the district with the help of tech savvy students and parents could produce video vignettes of whats happening in their schools. Kids love to see themselves on the tube and I think it would build school pride.Throughout the district we have talented students that could showcase their abilities on air. Could CAPA create a production team of aspiring broadcast journalist to follow our students when they compete in things like the robotics challenge and then create programing to share with the entire community. I have asked if I could read a children's story once a month. This could be expanded to include guest readers from citizens to community leaders. Tonight I attended the Cyber Safety presentation at Churchill this should have been recorded and broadcast. The production of Oklahoma performed at Franklin could have been as simple as a one camera shoot and could be shown to a much wider audience on our cable channel. The point is lets start using the tools we already have to showcase the our best ambassadors our students.

A letter from Apple

Dear Dr. King:
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify Apple's response to the District's RFP for Instructional Computers. Apple's initial bid response included a carefully-detailed description of Apple's product proposal, but we fear that the district's evaluation committee did not take into account all of the factors that would be relevant to its determination. As we review the Bid Analysis, it seems apparent that the evaluation committee did not fully consider our primary product offering, the 17" iMac. We attach configuration information and the cost structure for our 17" iMac solution which establish that the cost delta between Apple and the winning bid is nominal.

Apple has broad and deep experience deploying educational technology and proven capacity to deliver a comprehensive solution designed to meet the needs of the District's students. Our computer specifications derive from what students can do in the classroom and result in configurations that enable them to accomplish those things. The operating system and creative applications are integrated, making extremely efficient use of the hardware resources of the system. Apple's ability to craft a solution that incorporates operating system, hardware, and applications makes for unparalleled ease of use and long-term support benefits.

The teachers in Livonia are comfortable and familiar with the applications and support that Apple provides. As external mandates and pressures increasingly burden our teachers, the district now has an opportunity to besensitive to the additional time and effort that would be required for its teachers to make this change. If learning in the classroom is the mostimportant outcome for the use of educational technology, then providingcontinuity for the district's teaching professionals should be a critical factor in the deployment analysis.We welcome the opportunity to explain, demonstrate and share why we knowthat our solution fits the needs of the students and teachers of Livonia Public Schools. An RFP response cannot show you how Apple truly differentiates itself from other vendors.Please let myself or Eileen Crowley know if you have any additionalquestions.

Regards,
Lori J. Dallava
************************************************
Lori Dallava
Sr. Project ManagerBids Management TeamApple Inc.

Letter from a concerned teacher.

Whether you prefer MAC or PC, you can't help coming to the conclusion that someone did not do their homework before making this decision.

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The IT Dept Memo on the Computer bids

More information on the computer purchase decision before the board.

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The LPS Bid Summary

No sign ofthe actual bids yet, but here is what we have. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.


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Note I received on Dell quality (or lack thereof)

Subject: new computers for students

Hello,
I have heard that the Board is looking into getting new computers for student use, and that you are looking at the Dell computers. I have a Dell Dimension 2350 that is a few years old. Just after the one year warranty expired the computer started freezing up on me. I called Dell for help, and paid $99.00 to be told by the service rep that every six to twelve months the computer needs to be reformatted and have everything reloaded (programs, service packs, updates, files from back up - EVERYTHING). Unfortunately, he was correct. Given my experience with this Dell computer when I replace it I most likely will not be purchasing another Dell computer.

Technology Upgrade

With so many old computers on their last leg the purchase of new computers in the district will move forward. I have heard from employees that were concerned that the 4-3 vote at the last board meeting was going to prevent this from happening. By spreading rumors like this, the administration is attempting to fear monger to drum up support for their proposal. There was good discussion at the board table regarding moving to one computer platform throughout the district. What was missing from the discussion was the reason we have fallen behind on our tech update that was scheduled to take place more than a year ago. Was there something that happened in the district that prevented the IT staff from staying on schedule with implementation of new computers? Oh yeah,that darn legacy thing and the unintended consequences of poor planning. Unfortunately this has become a debate about Apple vs Dell and while Apple is clearly on the rise with new innovative products and inventions, and Dell is falling, coming off its worst year in recent history it will not deter the faithful. I can hear the wagons circling as our illustrious IT staff prepares to exult the PC and bash the Mac. Although it has not been spoken yet, the usual M. O. will be to have the B.O.E conduct a board meeting in one of our middle schools trotting out all of the PC fans in the district with computer geek speak and students involved in the dog and pony show. What will be absent however is all of those on the IT staff and throughout the district that support using something other than what this proposal offers. I do not believe in one size fits all education and I will certainly not support a proposal that moves the district in that direction. One of the arguments I hear over and over again is in the real world outside of school everyone uses a windows based PC. What world would that be? Certainly not the creative world that I travel in as a professional musician. Or that of my brother in California who is a filmmaker. Or the web developer, publisher,illustrator I know. Or the law firm of another friend. Or thousands of other business owners I know in every conceivable line of work. The point is it is not a single platform world and the computer you use often depends on what you are trying to accomplish. This proposal needs to be examined closely, especially the true cost of everything associated with the purchase. As we move forward I will be listening to all the stakeholders recognizing that the IT staff is there to make the teachers job easier not the other way around.

Comments

I love all of the comments I receive on this blog,very informed.I hope everyone that reads my blog takes the time to read the comments as well. So much is happening in the district I have to do better at getting the word out.It's not easy breaking through the PR culture that dominates this district. Livonia neighbors web site does a great job providing so much information about whats really going on.As a regular viewer I learn a great deal from the different posts and opinions.