Linux in Atlanta Public Schools

[Third Thoughts]

Daniel Howard, one of the guys in Atlanta's local Linux Enthusiats group, converted an Atlanta elementary school from a messy network of Windows computers to a thin client/server system running on Linux software. I'm not sure exactly what distro it was, but the whole project is pretty damn sweet. The elementary school actually made a presentation to the CIO of Atlanta Public schools, and the slide shows from that presentation are here.
http://morrisbrandon.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=41

~Andrew S.

[greenstar]

I checked out the presentation, that does look sweet.

I have been pondering some ways to help an underfunded school in my area. Unfortunately I've never gotten farther than pondering. I don't have the resources to implement something like this myself, and the locals are not generally receptive to new ideas.

That school & its students are very fortunate.

[apollo1900]

It's certainly feasible. With openoffice.org and things like that. I could think of setting my school up like that, cause I've got the time, but they'd probably reject or say "What's Linux?"

I owe them for two computers and a whole bunch of other stuff...

[Third Thoughts]

It's certainly feasible. With openoffice.org and things like that. I could think of setting my school up like that, cause I've got the time, but they'd probably reject or say "What's Linux?"

I owe them for two computers and a whole bunch of other stuff...

You should go for it if you think you can. Apparently this guy had some trouble with the locals as well. Here a couple key emails from the list.
http://article.gmane.org/gmane.org.user-groups.ale/44438/
http://article.gmane.org/gmane.org.user-groups.ale/39849/
http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.org.user-groups.ale/41269/

He invites folks to contact him, so if you think you'd like to give it a go, I'm sure he'll give you advice.

~Andrew S.

[iverylm]

Its official!! The Atlanta Public Schools District, totaling 89 schools approved deployment of 25,000 thin clients in its classrooms. APS goal is to have 2:1 computer ratio per classroom.

The installation and setup of the 7 pilot schools was done in 2007 by http://www.localnetsolutions.com/press.html. Later the project was expanded to 36 schools.


IVERY

[arcdrag]

Interesting. Is there any data out there concerning how much Atlanta schools will save overall with this venture?

[aysiu]

So it took three years for other schools to follow suit?

[sydbat]

So it took three years for other schools to follow suit?Looks like...but they did follow...

[arcdrag]

So it took three years for other schools to follow suit?

Changes in Education take an extremely long time...especially changes that involve budgets.

[Sporkman]

Its official!! The Atlanta Public Schools District, totaling 89 schools approved deployment of 25,000 thin clients in its classrooms. APS goal is to have 2:1 computer ratio per classroom.

The installation and setup of the 7 pilot schools was done in 2007 by http://www.localnetsolutions.com/press.html. Later the project was expanded to 36 schools.


Nice! 8)

[Viva]

That is awesome. One of states in India recently switched all the School and government computers to Ubuntu. There must be tens of thousands of ubuntu computers in Kerala alone.

[iverylm]

I wrote the Linux Administrator, via an on line forum that we both belong too....he replied back wanting to know why I ask. I replied with my answer, have not heard back from him. I also wrote the director of technology, all this is 2 months ago. The world knows about Morris Brandon Elementary, but somehow all 89 schools is on the back burner. My guess is, they will wait until the project is completed. See my previous post with the link

Savings? Overall savings will not be immediate, may take 2 or 3 years, or it maybe less. Question I have..is as they install thin clients, will they convert current computers to thin clients for classroom usage? Surely they will reduce their yearly fees for Office and WOS

On another note, the Pauling County school district, is a confirmed member of Vendor Lock-in. In 2008, entered first year of a 4 year contract with Dell Refresh Program. Cost $2 million plus over a 4-year period. Student:computer ratio is 4:1. (Got info from 2010 budget that was posted on line.)

Well enough ramping.

IVERY

[shel-hall]

http://morrisbrandon.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=41
Heh. I went to Morris Brandon ....

-Shel