By Danny Kelleher
Executive News Editor
and Alex Wyckoff
Staff Writer
Earlier this year, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District board, in partnership with the district Technology Committee, approved a plan to make Mira Costa’s library a Wi-Fi hotspot.
According to Costa Principal Ben Dale, the initial cost for the project was $30,000. The plan’s goal is to institute a faster internet connection for the library computers, and to provide a spot for students to use their mobile technology.
“The internet connection is fast,” Dale said. “It’s remarkably better; it’s more reliable and also more robust.”
Some, however, have taken issue with the large amount of funding and labor that has been invested in the Wi-Fi project.
“Compared to last year, nothing has really changed,” sophomore Lynn Wang said. “The internet may be faster, but the computers are still slow and frustrating. Even if we have fast internet, the slow computers stop it from being useful. It seems like a waste of money.”
Others in opposition to the recent technological implementations have been concerned with the prioritization of what technology gets updated, believing advanced equipment doesn’t always translate to advanced learning.
“We need to be careful,” history teacher Bill Fauver said. “I don’t think we can equate quality instruction with objects. The focus needs to be on the daily interaction between the teacher and the student, and not assume that if we just buy more things, quality instruction will take place.”
Dale included that using the Wi-Fi designated funds for other things would have been impossible, as there are many different funds approved for a specific purpose by the district. There is no allocated amount of money that the school can just use freely.
“I think Mr. Dale is doing this for the right reasons,” Fauver said. “I’m worried about the people who go beyond the reasons Mr. Dale is choosing to spend money on this, and people who think it’s necessary to spend money on this for quality instruction.”
Although steps have been taken toward technological accessibility in the library, the printers that were in the library last year are not there anymore. There is no longer a designated location for students to complete and print work on campus.
“That was an administrative decision,” librarian Jane Lofton said. “They want to make a move toward being green and being paperless. They want students and teachers working electronically.
Some disagree with the notion that an environment without printers is more progressive.
“In this age of technological dependence, every student should have access to a printer,” English teacher Bradi Everett said.
Through the concerns, Dale maintains that it is too early to accurately judge the changes being made on campus.
“It’s incremental,” Dale said. “I want it done now. I wanted it done yesterday. The transition [to a technologically advanced school] will be long but worthwhile.”
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