Our designated computer lab had 12 Internet accessible computers last year. As of October 2001, we have made room for another 6 computers. The eight new Gateway computers were upgraded in January with Office 2000 in order to have inservices on Microsoft Applications. Ten other computers have been upgraded with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Excel. As funds become available, all computers in the lab will be upgraded with Office 2000.

To the faculty's and students' delight, a second computer lab has been established for keyboarding and word processing skills. Although each of 15 computers are Internet capable, there are not enough hubs to access the Internet at the present time. Plans are being formulated to install the necessary hubs. We are considering the addition of at least eight more computers that will be set up on tables that are kindergarten and first grade heights. In this way, we will be able to included our younger students in the word processing lab.

The most significant accomplishments made in the Educational Technology area are tied to the 3.5 million dollar grants awarded to the Montgomery Public School System in October 2001. The following will be accomplished at Vaughn Road Elementary School by the start of the 2002-2003 school year.

1. A new wide-area sonet ring is being installed (ten times faster than the current T-1’s) connecting all 69 Montgomery County Sites (schools and support agencies).
2. A new Internet Protocol (IP) phone system will be installed in all 69 sites. Every current MPS phone set will be replaced with a new IP phone, and Vaughn Road Elementary School will be equipped with "caller ID." Voice mail will also be activated for our school. The new system will take advantage of the fiber connections between sites and will reduce the need for as many outside phone lines as is currently in place.

Please contact Dr. Carol Doucet (269-3830) at Educational Technology Services for appropriate information about MPS.