Monday, February 14, 2011

Wi-fi

23 schools currently have wi-fi, another 4 will have it by June 2011
Wireless can cost $40,000 to $300,000 per school
The fed reimburses by qualifying free and reduced lunch amount
Admin is recommending against implementation of public wifi, due to security concerns, largely
Principals can request a 24 hour public guest network be turned on for public events, however

gradual roll-out of wireless over the next three years citywide, with some difficulty around the schools that have the lowest amount of free and reduced lunch students
Not necessarily recommended by admin

Also, schools that have wireless have had all staff informed of sign-in
recommendation that admin allow parents to use sign-in for buildings that have wifi during school hours; admin says this is entirely possible

2 comments:

Unknown said...

This is not true. We have had WiFi for 2 years now in our building but no one can use it because they have not given out the password. It's been wasted money sitting in our building, looking good but nonfunctioning. So, yes, 23 schools may have it but how many of them actually have it being used? There are still many rooms without an internet connection of any kind, mine included. We were all drooling when it was installed but once again, false hopes in our case :(

Tracy Novick said...

Stacy,
They gave the password to all building principals that have wifi; then, knowing that sometimes that information doesn't get shared, they sent an email to all worc.k.12.ma.us emails in those buildings. I take it you didn't get one? And probably not just you...
Two things: I'll send you the password (I have it) and I'll talk to IT.