Evergreen Elementary School Principal Dave Valenzuela is proud of his school’s computer system.

Its two computer labs serve students quite well, and every effort has been made to upgrade hardware as often as possible. But Valenzuela and other Three Rivers School District (TRSD) officials are realizing that a long-range technology plan is becoming more of a necessity.

“Our ability to stay with the times has been outstanding up until now,” Valenzuela said. “But we’re falling behind in speed and our capacity to utilize the programs that we’re bringing on board.”

He said that there are “minor grumblings” among Evergreen teachers regarding the current system’s lack of speed, but that staff members understand TRSD’s financial limitations.

“It is frustrating to them,” Valenzuela said, “but most people understand the financial commitment it takes to upgrade appropriately.”

Earlier this month, TRSD Human Resources Director Debbie Breckner addressed the issue during a board meeting.

“There are some very real problems with the state of technology in the district,” Breckner said. “Part of the problem is that we don’t have a plan.”

New testing and student information systems, combined with reporting requirements included in the federal No Child Left Behind Act, threaten to put a further strain on the district’s 2,400 computers, Breckner said.

Currently, more than 90 percent of TRSD computers are not covered under any warranty, and printers and computer-compatible projectors are in short supply.

As such, the district will be considering a lease agreement with CDW-G, a company that handles technology issues for the state government. Those discussions will begin April 23, during the TRSD Budget Committee’s first meeting this year.

Breckner said that the district considered bids by Office Max, Staples and other companies, but that CDW-G would charge much less for its services.

“Basically, what would happen is we would be leasing the computers for five years,” Breckner said. “During that period, if there’s a problem with the machines at any time, they get sent back.”

Under the proposal, the district would pay $212,000 to lease a total of 130 computers and pay $85,000 for a software assurance agreement. Such a move would ultimately save the district money, Breckner said.

“Basically, what that would allow us to do is keep our computers licensed at whatever version we’re using at that time without having to purchase the individual licenses,” Breckner said. “The way it breaks down is under the current model, we license everything at about $212 a machine. But under the software assurance, the cost drops to $45 a machine.”

Breckner said that if the TRSD board approves the contract with CDW-G, “it would entail approximately 1,300 computers” and ensure that students do not fall behind in the increasingly fast-moving, technologically driven global economy.

“It really is a better deal,” Breckner said.