Dart Foundation - Education Foundation and Sarasota County Schools collaboration reaches new milestone...3500!

Education Foundation and Sarasota County Schools Collaboration Reaches New Milestone...3,500!

by Sarasota Education Foundation News/Sarasota County Schools

SARASOTA, FL – May 19, 2010 – Jessie Boswell had no idea she’d be singled out when she walked into her old school last night. One of 68 students of all ages arriving with their families at the Booker Middle School cafetorium, the Booker High 9th grader and her stepdad were there to learn how to attach a keyboard to a CPU, use some cool software, and take home Jessie’s very own home computer.

Sarasota County Schools

The 3,500th Texcellence computer goes to Jessie Boswell, pictured with (l–r) stepdad Jason Maxham, Booker Middle School Principal Joe Bazenas, and Education Foundation board member Bruce Beckstein

After welcoming the crowd, program coordinator Alina Klein announced that Jesse’s family would receive computer number 3,500 from the Texcellence Computer Donation Program, surging past its goal for the school year. At the end of Tuesday evening’s distribution, over 3,560 Sarasota County families had received refurbished home computers, training, and technical support since Texcellence’s launch in the spring of 2007.

Grants from Dart Foundation and ANS Foundation launched Texcellence in its first year, and their support continues to underwrite the program.

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Creole and Russian were among the languages spoken by participating families, most of whom arrived after a full day at work. Some students interpreted for parents and showed off their computer skills as trainers led the two-hour workshops in English and Spanish. All left with clean desktop computers and monitors, flash drives, and a phone number for tech support. Many signed up for a twelve-month Internet subscription, with security and parental controls, for a single $40 set-up fee.

A collaboration between the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and Sarasota County Schools, Texcellence has become a model for public/private partnership. Designed to bridge the digital divide for families who can’t afford basic technology at home, the program was inspired by a local teacher, Ron Zimmerman, who refurbished used computers in his garage for students in need.

Sarasota County Schools

McIntosh Middle School's Weihao Chen with parents Song Chen and Yu Lan Jian.

Grants from Dart Foundation and ANS Foundation launched Texcellence in its first year, and their support continues to underwrite the program. Other individuals, businesses, civic groups provide gifts in multiples of $250, the cost of supplying one computer for a family. District employees and the Sarasota PC User's Group offer training and tech support. The schools, Sarasota County government, the City of Sarasota, and area businesses provide equipment and storage space. Publix Super Markets donated over 1,000 gently used computers from its Lakeland, Florida headquarters.

Starting in 2009, sparked by funding from philanthropist Allan Weis, ANS Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, and The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, families have also had the option to add Internet access.

Klein is already gearing up for 2010-2011. “In this economy, these families simply can’t afford to provide a computer at home, but they know how important this technology is to their children’s future. They go to great lengths to participate in Texcellence because they are truly motivated to help their children succeed.”

Sarasota County Schools

Tuttle Elementary 3rd grader Devon Garner with his mom Davena Pitts.

Sarasota County Schools

Jesus, Pedro and Star Allende from Suncoast School for Innovative Studies.

Sarasota County Schools

Kaleb Dunkerly, a Kindergartener from Phillippi Shores Elementary, Dawn Dunkerly.