Four seniors at Long Branch High School work on the mobile wireless laptops in the library. Pictured are Sydora Hundberry (l-r), Zia Albertson, Bryan Perry and Mickael Fleming. LONG BRANCH – The city’s public school systemhas stepped up its game in the technology department and is nowoffering a new service for high school students.
Located in the library at the new high school on Indiana Avenue are 24 new Dell Latitude laptop computers. The state-of-theart laptops arewireless andmobile, allowing students to sit anywhere in the two-story library to do work. The computers are fully loaded with the latest software applications, and they also have Internet access, according to a press release from the Long Branch public schools system.
“This is one of the best features of the newhigh school,” said ZiaAlbertson, a senior in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy of the High School.
Students can be seen using the new laptops during their study and lunch periods, according to the release.
“Lunch shifts are 40 minutes, so I eat quickly and come into the library to work on my homework and projects,” Bryan Perry, a senior in the School of Leadership Academy at the high school, said.
The high school has more than 900 computers located throughout the building, but one student said the newaddition of the laptops provides a greater opportunity for students to have access to computers.
“With all these computers you would think it’s easy to use one,” said Mickael Fleming, a senior in the School ofDigital Sciences and ComplexMathematics of the high school. “However, the computer labs are usually full and the classroom computers are also in use, so having these computers for use during study periods or lunch is a great opportunity for us.”
The Long Branch school district began distributing laptop computers to all fifthgrade students in the school system about four years ago. The computers are for each child and the students are able to take them home to work on school assignments.
The program has been expanded, and today all students fromthe fifth to the eighth grade are provided with a laptop.
“This is a great program for the children of Long Branch,” said Garry Penta, district administrator for pre-K-fifth grade.
“Many children do not have access to a computer at home, and they should not be at a disadvantage,” Penta added.
Michael Salvatore, district administrator for grades 6-12, said in the release that in four years every student from fifth grade to a senior in high school will have a personal laptop computer.
Due to the rapid change in technology and to the extent to which schools process and use technology, Long Branch will be ahead of the curve, Salvatore said.
“We have developed the infrastructure, have the hardware, software and connectivity,” said George L. Catrambone, assistant superintendent of schools.
“Our staff is properly trained and we have all the safety measures in place,” Catrambone said, adding, “Schools are in a period of transition with regard to technology. The pace of transition has increased in the past five years and is gaining additional speed annually.”
The transition has been fueled by the recognition that in order to realize the benefits of technology, teachers and students must have adequate access to equipment and connectivity, according to the release.
One high school student who does not have a computer at her home said the new laptops have helped her academically.
“I did 15 papers in two days on the laptop,” Sydora Handburry, a senior in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy said. “It savedmy life.”
The Long Branch public schools system is able to fund the laptop project through state grants and fiscal budgeting, according to the release, which states that each laptop costs roughly $1,000 full equipped.
“Our plan is that each student from fifth grade to graduation will have their own personal laptop computer,” saidLongBranchSuperintendent of School JosephM. Ferraina.
“The assumption that technology has a purpose in and of itself is a fundamental flaw,” said Ferraina. “Technology is not the reason for putting computers in the schools.
“Instruction, information, communication and productivity are the reasons for utilizing technology,” Ferraina added.