Durham schools get 'retired' computers from Duke

By Kelly Hinchcliffe

DURHAM -- Jason Dewitt's computer always froze right in the middle of an important school project. He'd turn it on and off, and on again, hoping to salvage some of his work. The process was frustrating, especially while working on a deadline.

"I used to get mad," Jason, 10, said.

But Tuesday, Jason smiled and looked at ease as he helped his classmate, Ladarrious Alston, 12, work on a PowerPoint presentation on one of their school's new computers.

"You can get your work over with and done," Jason said.

Jason, Ladarrious and another student, Anthony Patterson, 11, worked in the background Tuesday during a news conference at E.K. Powe Elementary School announcing a new partnership between Duke University and the Durham Public Schools.

Duke has agreed to help replace outdated computers in DPS classrooms with newer models and help teachers incorporate the new computers into their instruction.

The university has donated dozens of computers each year to local public schools and nonprofits, but the new program will expand to several hundred computers a year, according to Michael Palmer, Duke's director of community affairs.

Priority will be given to schools and nonprofit groups that are part of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership.

Anita Brake, a media specialist at E.K Powe, said the school has already received 25 computers from Duke, which arrived three weeks ago. DPS administrators have identified as many as 3,400 computers that need to be replaced across the school system based on standards set for classroom computers' model and memory capacity.

As DPS sought more computers, Duke was looking for a place to send their "retired" computers. Before the computers could be donated, they had to be erased of all their data.

"It turned out to be a lot more complicated than we thought," said David Stein, Duke's educational partnership coordinator.

Most of the donated computers are Windows-compatible with Pentium III and newer processors capable of running Windows 2000 or XP. Monitors, keyboards and mice also were donated. Duke officials estimate the program will cost the university $140,000 annually.

"We would much rather see computers retired from use at Duke end up in a fifth-grade classroom than at a recycling center," said Jane Pleasants, Duke's assistant vice president for procurement services.

Nancy Hester, the school system's assistant superintendent of support services, thanked Duke during Tuesday's news conference.

"Time and time again, Duke has helped us educate Durham's youth," she said. "We assure you, these computers will be put to very good use."

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To find out more about the program, contact David Stein at 668-6271.

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