Tech & Learning - July 2008 - (Page 14)

news trends BACK OFFICE BUSINESS PRINTING MONEY (SORT OF) Sure, OKI Data wants you to buy printers. But the multinational printer company also wants you to save money while you do it. Its managed services division recently performed an audit on Westbury School District’s (NY) technology resources—more than 1,600 computers scattered throughout six schools from pre-K to high school levels. Before the makeover, the district spent about $498,000 annually on print document output. It now expects to save more than half of that each year by following these tips from Oki Data consultants: 1. Migrate away from expensive inkjet printers that expend a significant portion of the technology budget towards a centralized and consolidated fleet of color and mono workgroup laser printers, ensuring increased productivity and a low total cost of ownership. 2. Redeploy technology resources more equitably and effectively by placing lower-cost, mono workgroup laser printers in areas that require heavy printing volumes, and affordable color laser printers in shared computer labs STILL HOPE FOR THE E-RATE Yes, the E-Rate reputation has become more than a little tarnished thanks to recent cases of fraud. But, this fund is still a vital component of getting tech into lower-income schools. Take the Highline School District in Washington State. The district wanted to implement a network to connect its 17,000 students, as well as faculty and staff. Their goal was to add bandwidth to access resources such as real-time streaming video sessions and an emergency response system. The district turned to Qwest Communications, who helped the school access E-Rate funds and set up an affordable long-term networking plan. “We couldn’t have upgraded our network without the federal E-Rate program,” says Mark Finstrom, director of technology at the Highline School District. Using E-Rate funds, the school was able to purchase the high-speed Qwest GeoMax and Qwest Metro Optical Ethernet (QMOE) services in 35 locations. When setting up a plan for E-Rate funding, Finstrom says schools need to think more like businesses. He says a good network is at the heart of needed twenty-first century programs, so it’s obvious districts need to implement creative funding plans. In a tight economy, the E-Rate still seems to be a viable option (www.universalservice.org/sl/about/overview-program .aspx). Just tread carefully. and individual classrooms to aid students’ learning. 3. Utilize Color Access Policy Manager to place comprehensive print controls on classroom printers, helping manage the expanded color capabilities and keep a handle on printing costs. 4. Consolidate devices with all-in-one document management solutions that prove invaluable to administrators by saving time, space, and money. 5. Employ a long-term print management strategy that includes annual assessments and technology refreshes, ensuring continuous technology improvements and maintaining a low total cost of ownership. [Source: www.okidata.com] Sites We Like: www.grantsalert.com GrantsAlert.com is a free service designed to make life easier for schools searching for education grants. The site is packed with information about identifying new funding opportunities and includes a help center, blog, useful links, a free grant guide, and much more. 14 | TECH & LEARNING http://www.okidata.com http://www.grantsalert.com http://www.universalservice.org/sl/about/overview-program.aspx http://www.grantsalert.com http://www.universalservice.org/sl/about/overview-program.aspx http://www.universalservice.org/sl/about/overview-program.aspx

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Tech & Learning - July 2008 Contents Editor's Desk News & Trends In the Money How They Got So Rich The Better Ways to Win a Grant What's the Big Idea? Cover Your Assets Leader of the Year

Tech & Learning - July 2008

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