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AHS will offer new computer training Repair, maintenance lab provided By DANI DODGE ASHLAND -- Come fall, Ashland high school students will have the chance to learn how to fix and maintain computers as well as spend time after school learning computer skills. The Ashland Schools Foundation's Information Technology Project will include hiring an instructor who can teach computer repair during school and assist students in the school's computer lab after school. Previously, the school's lab was only open during school hours. The foundation's long-range goal is to have computer resource centers in each of Ashland's seven public schools. "We all recognize that computer skills are as basic as the three Rs," said Katherine Danner, executive director of the Ashland Schools Foundation. "It's becoming a requirement in the workplace ... and we also wanted to prepare students not going onto higher education." The tax-exempt Ashland Schools Foundation is funded by grants and donations and is dedicated to supporting quality education for Ashland students. When the foundation formed a decade ago, the first project members undertook was one to improve technology. But with their fledgling status and $3,000 budget, they were overwhelmed by the task, Danner said. "So it was put on the back burner," she said. When the $21 million capital schools bond passed in 1996, $3 million was dedicated to technology. "It took the district from the dark ages to the top 10 percent of schools around the country in terms of (computer) hardware," Danner said. "But there wasn't money for personnel to teach how to use this in the classroom." So the foundation decided to step forward. The cost of the project will be $65,000 to $75,000 a year. The foundation is raising money to insure the Resource Center's continuation for the next three years. The foundation already has the money to pay for the computer specialist who will staff the center. They expect to have someone hired and ready to start by Aug. 23. Danner said the advertisement went in Sunday and the foundation was getting several calls an hour about it on Monday. "There's a lot of enthusiasm for the position," Danner said. "And every conversation we've had with community members is that its absolutely necessary." She said the foundation raised $18,000 with its first few calls to donors. One of the groups donating money to the project is the Ashland Rotary Club, which gave $2,500. "It's important because students graduating from the school need to know how to use computers. ... but it's a need that the school district can't meet itself," said Jeff Monosoff, a rotary member. "And the foundation with the help from us and others can cover it." The Information Technology Project, under the stewardship of the foundation, will be guided and supervised by an Information Technology Advisory Board. Members of the board include representatives from local businesses, the foundation, the high school and the school district's technology committee. Community members wanting to learn more about the project, or make donations can check out the foundation's Web site at www.ashland.k12.or.us/asf/ or call the foundation office at 482-8197. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA