Our district has a program, about 9 months old, in which teachers and
administrators who commit to 60 hours of tech training, on their own time
over 2 years, get $1300 toward a home computer from the district. They pay
any amount over $1300 themselves. So far, 30 have purchased, and I expect
about 30 more over the next 6-9 months, since over 90% of our 70 teachers
have been taking the classes.
Non-teaching staff can purchase a system up to $3000 through payroll
deduction over 2 years, for a 30-hour training commitment (teachers who want
to, but they can't do both options). We've already had a custodian do this,
and since then we've put him on the school's network at work too! The
district pays up front, but gets everything back, except lost interest, so it
ultimately doesn't cost them much. In both options, the employee benefit is
an income-taxable fringe. They also must pay sales tax.
It's an expensive program (the first option) which some have criticized
as being too extravagant for the teachers, but consider:
--Most teachers spend another $1000-$1500 on the average at the time of
purchase out of their pocket for their complete system.
--Income tax on the $1300 is another $400+ out of their pocket.
--It's really succeeded in getting the teachers into training voluntarily. In
fact we have several who are still coming to classes even though they've
already completed their 60 hrs.
--Our experience has been that teachers learn MUCH faster when they have a
computer at home, and are MUCH more likely to start, and CONTINUE, using them
at school.
Anyway, that's our program. It's had its rough spots that we've dealt with,
but all-in-all it's working. I didn't design it (it came out of tech.
planning committee) but I am in charge of administering it, so feel free to
ask any questions.
Rick Wherley
Independence Local Schools, Independence, Ohio
rjw@cybergate.net