Wireless Computer Labs Delivered to Schools 

The first of $6,000,000 worth of wireless computer labs were officially delivered to several schools in Knox County today.

The labs were presented to Knox County Schools in a ceremony at Carter High School that was attended by members of the Knox County Commission, the Knox County Board of Education and representatives from the Apple and Dell Computer Corporations.

“This is the culmination of a series of events that began earlier this year,” said Dr. Charles Lindsey,Superintendent of Schools. “We are grateful to the Board of Education and members of the County Commission for making it possible for the school system to make this quantum leap forward in the technology we can make available in the classroom.”

“This is really the way to go,” Lindsey continued. “We are able to add multiple computer labs to every school in the county without having to dedicate a brick and mortar facility to that sole purpose.”

The school system has worked with both Apple and Dell over the last few months to purchase 288 of the wireless labs each of which contain 15 student laptop computers.

“Dell and Apple have really bent over backward to give us exceptional value for our money,” said Jim Idol, technology supervisor for Knox County schools. “Because of their cooperation we have been able to purchase many more computer labs than we initially thought possible.”

Accepting the Labs for the school system were school board member Jim Williams and County Commissioner John Mills, along with Lindsey and Carter High School Principal Cheryl Hickman. On hand to present the labs for Apple were Dr. James Kelley, manager of strategic relations Apple - Deep South Education Region, Brian Glen, manager Apple - Deep South Education Region and Tim Matheny a senior systems engineer. Representing Dell were Ken Czarnecki, director of portable operations for Dell’s Nashville Fulfillment Center and Jim Eden, major accounts manager.

Also present to accept the wireless computer labs were Knox County Board of Education members Diane Jablonski, Brian Hornback, Margaret Maddox and Diane Dozier. In addition to Mills, County Commissioners David Collins and Mary Lou Horner also represented the county.

In addition to Carter High School, Carter Middle School and Carter Elementary School also received labs today. All county schools should receive their complement of wireless computer labs over the next few weeks.

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