New School Year, New Technology in Hereford

With the beginning of the 2013-14 school year in the Diocese of Amarillo, students at St. Anthony’s School will begin the new year with new technology.

Thanks to the generosity of donors who supported the inaugural Big Mamma’s Steak Dinner and Dance last spring, over-the-top generosity and frugal spending, what was estimated to cost $42,850 only cost the school $30,100, according to school spokesperson Elaine McNutt.
“Thanks to some serious bargaining, we were able to purchase 20 iMac Desktops for our computer lab; 10 MacBook Pro Laptops for our teachers; 10 iPad2’s with cases for our teachers; and, one charge/sync cart for our iPads,” she said.

The school was hoping to purchase another 20 iPad2’s, but an unexpected wrinkle developed.
“While we were switching out our outdated Windows-based equipment with our new Mac equipment, we discovered that we needed to seriously update the wireless network in both our school buildings and in the Antonian Room,” McNutt said. “Our network is used by St. Anthony’s School, the Young Life and Life Teen programs at St. Anthony’s Church and there are several RCIA teachers who also depend on our network.”

The network was replaced Aug. 8, at a cost between $10,000 and $12,000, according to McNutt.

At this time, St. Anthony’s School is seeking new and gently used iPads for classroom use. For more information or to donate an iPad to the school, contact McNutt at 364-1952.