Students at Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School in University City will be enjoying a new computer lab thanks to the generosity and support of the WUSTL Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP).
As part of a service project, the group, in partnership with the National Society for Black Engineers at WUSTL, worked to get a donation of more than 20 computers from the School of Medicine.
AITP then worked with University City school officials to create a new computer lab for students, using two existing classrooms.
“We are very excited about it,” said Rebel Saffold, vice president of AITP. “They only had two or three computers per classroom, but this new lab will allow more students, as well as teachers, to have access to information and technology.”
Saffold said the idea started last summer when members of AITP were discussing doing a community service project.
“We contacted a few school districts and we felt that University City would be a great fit,” he said. “Initially, we were going to work with students on computer projects. But after we received the donation of computers, we began to look for a school to house them.
“I met with the principal of Barbara C. Jordan (Sandra Bell), and she was very, very excited about having the computers, so we decided to go for it.”
Members of AITP set up the lab and networked it. All the computers will be running the Linux operation system and will be installed with a program called Tungsten Learning, which school officials use to test communication arts and math skills of students.
“With the new lab, testing will be much more efficient and effective,” Saffold said. “The testing that used to take a whole day can now be completed in a few hours.”
The lab includes 20 computers, two printers, one scanner and a teacher’s station.
An open house was held Feb. 21 to dedicate the lab in honor of Andrea M. Smith, a deceased teacher who worked in the district for 15 years.
Saffold and the members of the AITP will also be helping with continued maintenance of the lab.
“Two technicians had been handling the information technology needs of basically the entire district, so they are very happy about us offering our services,” he said.
He is still looking for additional donations.
“We aren’t looking for brand new equipment by any means, but we’d welcome donations of gently used monitors, keyboards or projection equipment,” Saffold said.
For more information or to donate, e-mail Saffold at rebel_saffold@wustl.edu.