European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 3, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse 30008 computers de Tram Page 13 predictable How of machines coming in so you can have a program and can Lake Cor Lam directions " obsolescence is one of Hose directions Rowley we re approaching the Point where we have to replace All Iho equipment that was never adequately supplied in the first place. We were in desperate need a year ago. We can continue this Way or a year or two Ai most even longtime Dodds administrators like Nurnberg High school principal Larry Philpot Are baffled by the Lack of computer equipment. To can get everything in the he said we can gel a systems and wrestling Mats but we can t gel computers " computers were said bad Kreuz Nach High school principal Dennis Mcguane. When the computer revolution hit. Everyone wanted to jump into it without knowing what they were gelling the Large Purchase of atari computers by dodos irom 1932 to 1984 failed to include spare parts. School offices have often cannibalized existing systems to flesh out work stations which include a disk drive keyboard display and Prin Lor. With Tho demand Lai exceeding Supply the Germany Region doled out computers based on a one-per-100 Slud enl ratio by 1985 no school would have lower than two and each Junior and senior High school would have at least duo. Dodds principals were concerned Abou the computer program As far Bacic As 1983. When it became apparent that the hoped for numbers of computers had not materialized a report called future factors affecting the department of Dolce be dependents schools said. Dodds principals rated computer education As the second most under emphasized area after career education As the most inadequate in terms of the curriculum offerings in the area and lowest in Iho Quality of a revised curriculum in 1934 forced High school principals to face up to the computer shortfall. Graduates of the school system in 1987-68 or later must have Al least one semester of computer credit. With regions unable to Supply enough computers principals beat the Community Bushes looking for funds to buy a classroom necessity. Dean Wiles curriculum Branch chief for the Germany Region defended the computer curriculum requirement to were looking a t an initial procurement of 20.ddd to 30,000. But that depended on funding in Washington and thai always Sticky. The people who made rhe decision on curriculum Are not in charge of funding efforts Al the Community level produced impressive results at some schools dismal results at others but Region wide Germany High schools nearly matched the number of computers that Dodds provided some schools have no increased their allo Ealion at Lackrone said some schools have doubled their allocation some have four limes their allocation. There s inequity " there s also Money because prices of computer equipment change from year to year Germany Region officials could Only estimate that local communities have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into computer procurement. A Dodds schools will have to Deal with the computer shortage by school year 1987-88, once the system shifts to what it Calls computer based instruction. Under Chi computers will become an in regal part of All classrooms including elementary. Curriculum experts in the five Dodds regions have already drawn up plans called Mission element needs statements that detail programs Lor computer use. Every academic area even music and Arl has submitted plans for computers. Many test Sites Tor the computer based instruction have been determined. Procurement officials in Odds Headquarters Are aware of the plans and plan to Purchase 1,750 to 4,000 personal computers to fuel the program. Bybee said Congress has approved �3.5 million for the Purchase. Page 14 the stars and stripes the contract has yet of be finalized but a dodos computer expert said the process should be completed by March 1987 and that schools will Start receiving computers for the test Sites by Early fall of 1987. Lackrone was less than enthusiastic about he proposed Purchase which he said will allot Only 1,007 computers for the Germany Region s demonstration Siles. It to were getting 2,000 to 4,000 we would t feel such a concern about the plan. The plan they re talking about is leading us to another Hodge podge of equipment. We have a plan but Washington does t have a whatever Ine procurement plan additional mass purchases of computers run smack into a variety of regulations and agencies before equipment reaches the classroom according to Dodds. The Brooks acl passed by Congress in 1965, Adda red tape to a process that involves the office of management and budget general services administration the department of defense and on occasion the Small business administration. Competition on the open Market is a slow process Bybee said. Lackrone and school administrators have suggested that regions or schools be granted authority for computer procurement. Bybee agreed but said Laws prohibit unrestricted purchases by lower authorities to avoid competitive bidding. When i know Hal the total i m going to buy is 1,750.1 can t Tell a school to go ahead and buy one Bybee said. Calvin said the big buy theory which implies lower costs through mass purchases has been proven false through the procurement of computer equipment at the local level schools have been Able to buy things cheaper than we have been Able to in these major i think a were paying j300 for the Basic machine when they manufacturers were advertising it or $179," although Dodds schools have computer labs such at i lilt one at the win Buden High school officials soy the foe Oiom my not adequate. From ton Ron Lackrone com Puter curriculum expert for Dodds a Tommy Region lorry Philpot bomb fit High school principal and Jim Halley principal Ofat chef Vonburg elementary school. Sas photo by bus Schuettler we be s waste Wasto waste on this item through the hot line. The 1g knows about these things but it s such a big process. We Don t want to get involved in a Hammer situation like the army and Navy have been involved Rowley who accompanied Calvin la Washington. D.c., in 1985 of help draw up specifications for ensling and future computer curriculum needs said procurements Are never easy in Washington. Is needed someone to take the procurement by hand through the Halls of the Pentagon. That was not Germany Region administrators expect Little relist in the future. A recent memo to elementary school principals read we see no break in the deadlock on local Purchase nor any significant breakthroughs in purchasing adequate numbers of computer stations in Dodds for the next several computer procurement As a line item request runs counter to successful programs instituted by Large school districts in the slates. According id a 1986 Survey the most successful states in terms of procuring computers Are those that employ a variety of fund bites to meet computer hardware needs. Dodds went without a computer curriculum chief in Washington . For 15 months until Barbara Midfield filled the position in july Olivia year. Oldfield said one of her biggest commitments is o bring technology Inlo Tho classroom but conceded that procurement has been the biggest problem is fulfilling that objective. Oldfield was in Germany last week As part of the Germany Region s seminar on computer Usa in the classroom. After winding up a question and answer session she was confronted by an elementary school principal. There s one question on everyone s mind he said. Can you Promise that schools will have enough computers for this computer based Jesu Ucon Down a Road the silence that followed needed no further explanation in worn on via and of fam Nahki it it win a
