Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

          In our first phase, we started the 2000-2001 school year with a brand new computer lab. We spent $100,000 to purchase 30 new Compaq computers, two new printers and an overhead projector. We also purchased supporting items like software, new furniture and air conditioning for the lab. High speed internet access was added to start the second semester.

The lab computers have the following configuration:

• Compaq Deskpro EP
• Pentium III 550 MHz
• 10GB hard drive
• 64 MB RAM
• 40X CDROM
• Compaq Intel PRO/100_+ NIC
• 17″ color monitor
• Windows 98

For the 2001-2002 school year, phase two covered the addition of 2 new Compaq computers in every classroom, including the library, the school office and the cafeteria. The entire school is now networked to share resources like printers and internet access. E-mail accounts were also added for the entire faculty.

  These classroom computers have the following configuration: 

• Compaq Deskpro EN
• Pentium III 866 MHz (Intel 815E chipset)
• 20GB hard drive
• 128MB standard RAM]
• 48X CDROM
• Integrated Intel PRO/100 VM Network Connection
• 17″ color monitor
• Windows 98
• Isobar Tripp•Lite Surge Suppressor (2350 Joules)

         This phase is a bit different than the previous two. For the 2002-2003 school year, we didn’t just add more computers to the school. We talked with all the teachers and combined their feedback from the first two years of this plan with the existing technology plan. The result is that we purchased fewer new computers than originally planned, and we spent more money on software this year in order to streamline school operations and enhance classroom curriculums. Therefore, Phase III improvements include:

1. We bought 8 new computer systems for the following locations:
   • principal’s office
   • secretary’s office
   • art room (2 computers)
   • kindergarten (4 computers in 2 classrooms)

   The configuration for these 8 new systems is:

• Compaq Evo Desktop D510 SFF
• Windows XP Professional Operating System
• Intel® Pentium® IV 1.8 GHz
• 400 MHz Front Side Bus
• 256KB Secondary Cache
• Intel® 845G Chipset
• 20.0GB 7200 rpm QSI SMART III Ultra ATA/100 hard drive
• 256MB Standard RAM
• Integrated Intel® PRO/100 VM Network Connection
• Intel Extreme Graphics
• 48X Max CD-ROM
• Intelligent Manageability
• Scroll Mouse
• Compaq S7500 17″ CRT Monitors NoHemi
2. We installed an HP DeskJet 5550 (17/12PPM 1200DPI 8MB PAR) printer in the secretary’s office.
3. We installed an HP ScanJet 4570CXI (2400DPI, 48 BIT, USB 2.0 HIGH SPEED) scanner in the art classroom. 
4. We installed a new desk and workstation in the computer lab. 
5. We installed various grade-appropriate software applications in the classrooms, giving the students and teachers more programs to use in their curriculum. 
6. We installed new library automation software from the Follett Software Company. Every book in the library was then bar coded and recorded in the computer. Students were issued an ID card with their photo and a 4-digit ID number (the same number used in the Lunch Cashier System described below). This card must be presented when checking out books. This entire system allows us to easily track the location of all library books at any given time. 
7. In the cafeteria, we installed the Lunch Cashier System to automate the tracking of student lunches. Through this program, each family has an account which pays for the lunches for all students in that family. Families simply make payments of any amount into their family account. Then as the student eats hot lunches at school or purchases milk, they present their ID card (the same ID card that is used in the library, see above) and the funds are automatically deducted from that student’s family account. Families receive written notices when the balance in their account reaches a certain minimum; this allows the family to make another payment to fund more lunches for their students. 
8. All students in the school were issued photo ID cards. Each card carries a bar code which corresponds to the student’s ID number. The student uses this card to purchase hot lunch or to check out books from the library.