US/ND-2: Re: School Income Level

Re: School Income Level

Betty Dawn Hamilton (bhamilt@tenet.edu)
Mon, 2 Sep 1996 16:58:22 -0500 (CDT) 

On Mon, 2 Sep 1996, Bill Cosh wrote:

> Now you are talking controversial subjects.  How to determine 
> school/school district income is a debate that educators have spent 
> decades arguing over.

Yes, this is still a problem in Texas even though the legislature has 
attempted to "equalize" funding.

One question that I have been mulling over is *how much* connectivity is
the target here.  For example, if a school district with visionary leaders
has sacrificed in other areas to gain connectivity for their schools even
though they are not considered "wealthy," will they be eligible for any
assistance? (We are networking within each campus, but have not acquired a
WAN or internet connections. I am seeking a single commercial provider
connection for my school library and will do some fundraising to pay for
it.)

I am in a rural district and have asked about ISDN and T1 lines to my
town.  The last time I talked to a telco person (a year ago, so things may
have changed), he said such lines were probably not forthcoming because
*I* had been the only one to ask for one!  We have little industry, such
as high tech companies, who would need such lines.  We are mainly a
farming community (with 3 prisons here in town -- I have all kinds of
visions concerning distance learning there), so digital transmissions are
not much in demand. 

While I am not quite sure about the technical requirements to get my 
school connected, I *am* knowlegeable about instructional integration of 
technology into the curriculum. I certainly want our students in this 
rural community to have the same access to technology *tools* that other 
students will have.  I emphasize *tools* because I feel that *any* sort 
of technology should be used to enhance the learning process -- and 
should not necessarily be a "course" in itself beyond the initial "how 
to" instruction. 

Betty
	Betty Dawn Hamilton * bhamilt@tenet.edu * 806.637.4523
Learning Resources Specialist * Tenet Master Trainer * Brownfield High School 
		701 Cub Drive * Brownfield, TX 79316