Computer Inventory

The computer inventory in the three school districts has more than doubled since 1999, stabilizing at slightly over 900 computers.  The growth was largely due to construction projects in Dover in 2001 and in the Region in 2003/2004. 

The growth in inventory has created the following student to computer ratios in the schools:

The inventory has also shifted from largely Apple Macintosh to a near exclusive Dell Windows environment.  There has also been a fairly large shift toward wireless laptops. 

The student to computer ratios exceed the Department of Education recommended minimum ratios of 5:1.  More importantly, the inventory is assessed largely adequate for the administrative and instructional requirements of the schools.  The one exception is the Pine Hill School in Sherborn.  The inventory in Pine Hill needs to expand slightly by the addition of a wireless laptop cart for instructional use.  The total inventory will then settle at approximately 925 computers.

Strategic Goal:  Secure an annual hardware sustaining budget in each district.

The challenge for the three districts in the coming years is to sustain the level of technology that has been achieved.  The inventory has developed exclusively through state subsidized construction projects and local granting organizations (DSEF, CSA, PTO, and POSITIVE).  The operational budget must sustain the technology.  The three school committees are aware of this need, and acknowledge it as a priority.

The estimated annual technology hardware budget to sustain the level of technology for each school district was presented to the School Committees in 2004 and can be viewed by clicking the links below:

Strategic Goal:  Evaluate the implications of one-to-one ratios in the future. 

The student to computer ratios are presently adequate for the instructional models employed.  However, the Regional School District must consider the possibility of one-to-one computing in the future.  Such a change would be revolutionary.  There are many questions associated with such a shift.  The district must begin exploring this issue to develop the analysis required for future decision-making.