- Create a local education foundation through which
businesses, organizations, and individuals may
donate money, equipment, and expertise to your
district.
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Explore initiatives of major corporations and
foundations. Many support innovative,
technology-based approaches to curriculum
development. You will want to have school staff
look into possible foundation support, but
recognize that competition for corporate and
foundation grants is keen.
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Seek the support of telephone companies. They are
potential sources for money. They often actively
support model demonstration projects that link
homes, schools, libraries, and government
agencies by way of telecommunications
technologies. These companies often supplement
video conferences and educational television
programming with teacher guides, student
activities, and print and electronic resources.
With telephone company help, a Texas junior high
school went wireless by installing a
mini-cellular system that allowed teachers,
administrative staff, and custodial and security
personnel to use small wireless telephones to
contact each other and the outside world.
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Establish joint purchasing plans with other
school districts and with county and state
governments and other entities. Those plans may
enable you to shop more aggressively for better
prices. Many school districts, especially small
ones, have taken advantage of purchasing
cooperatives. This is advantageous because small,
innovative companies often find it difficult to
market their products to school districts,
frequently making purchasing decisions entirely
different from those in neighboring districts.
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Form a regional consortium that would work
closely with industrial partners and the
nonprofit educational organizations that serve
the community. The consortia would buy
instructional software, create communications
networks, and develop teaching and training
methods.
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Consider leasing rather than buying equipment. In
some cases, lease arrangements allow for
installation, maintenance and repair, and
training sessions.
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Review the article "Selling
Technology Bonds" in Electronic School,
September 1996 (Becoming a Better Board Member)
to learn how to get voters on your side.
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In this
Module: