DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140654

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   78 lines

BOOKER T. LINKS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY WORKS WITH HIGH SCHOOL TO GIVE IT ADVANTAGE.

When principal Joel Wagner's brother died last year, he asked sympathizers to donate money for computer cable and switches instead of flowers. His school, Booker T. Washington High, needed materials to wire computers.

Wagner joined teachers, who contributed their $50 supply stipend to buy software, and community volunteers who worked at the school until late evening hours to hookup classrooms.

The yearlong mission to mold Booker T. into the city's most technologically-advanced high school has included door-to-door fund-raising, the wooing of area businesses, winning national grants, and piecing together school and community resources.

It's succeeding.

``I am learning things many other people wouldn't have the opportunity to,'' said freshman Robert Cullipher recently as he designed a Web page in one of the school's classrooms. ``They don't have the technology and resources. The faculty and staff here are great, they encourage you.''

Science teacher and technology coordinator Ann Mead said this school-community partnership has equipped the school with more than $250,000 in wiring and equipment. It has also put Booker T. ahead of other high schools when it comes to technology in the classroom.

``That's the beautiful thing about this,'' Mead said. ``We're able to offer students many opportunities and it didn't cost the taxpayers a cent.''

During the past year, volunteers have equipped almost every classroom with a computer. The computers are scheduled to be linked to the Internet by January, access most schools don't have. Through computer and video cameras, Booker T. students soon will be able to see and work with students around the state, sharing ideas and developing regional projects.

A report released this week by the publication Education Week said that Virginia schools were better equipped with technology than most schools but the state's children underutilize it.

That's not the case at Booker T. Cullipher and his teachers regularly use the school's computers. He said the computer work is giving him valuable experience.

Booker T.'s technology plan was almost nonexistent about a year ago. The school had computers from the school system, but no money to hook them up. School officials couldn't tap parents or the PTA for support.

``I pull from six public housing areas here,'' Wagner said. ``We don't have parents here who can donate money for software. But we need to give our students the opportunities. You will never, ever level the playing field without technology.''

Mead, inadvertently, sparked the technology drive after she talked her brother, John McLin, a computer specialist at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, into wiring her classroom computer to the Internet.

McLin toured the school and developed a list of what the school would need to create a competitive network. He suggested business contacts that could help the school get supplies at low cost. Mead began applying for grant money.

McLin joined Mead and others in finding resources.

``A lot of businesses hesitated and asked, `but how will this help me?' '' McLin said. ``I asked them, `Who are you going to hire three or four years from now to run the computers?' Their eyes started to light up then.''

Last October, the school hosted a ``Net Day'' in which community volunteers helped wire the school. More than 160 people spent one Saturday connecting wires and switches to computers. Many of those volunteers continue to help.

One constant presence is Fenton Priest, owner and president of wholesaler Priest Electronics Inc. He has helped the school locate equipment and asked Cullipher last week to help design the business' Web page.

``I felt it could be a win-win situation,'' Priest said. ``I think it's an opportunity for a real partnership to help students learn and help reach out to the community.''

Booker T. recently received a $15,000 grant which the school will use to conduct classes, by local buinesses, for parents and students and train them as certified computer technicians. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

MOTOYA NAKAMURA/The Virginian-Pilot

Volunteers Mark Garrenton, left, John McLin, right, and Joseph

Nobles used their expertise to help link Booker T. Washington

computers to the Internet. KEYWORDS: EDUCATION

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