RecExtra or Broadband for kindergarten?

Here's the question:

Should Montgomery County spend $4 to $5 million per year for 5 years (that's $20 to $25 million) to bring FiberNet broadband to MCPS elementary schools, or instead should it use the funds to support students in other ways?

For example, what about restoring the $156,000 to the RecExtra program so that 13 middle schools can continue their after school programs?

On Monday, September 21, 2009, the Montgomery County Council's Education Committee will be meeting with the Management and Fiscal Policy Committee to discuss whether or not all MCPS elementary schools should have access to FiberNet.

In a previous posting, this blog noted that this school year 13 middle schools had their RecExtra program cut. How much money did it take to fund the RecExtra program at 13 middle schools? About $156,000.

The packet summary that accompanies the September 21st meeting on FiberNet does not clearly summarize how much this FiberNet initiative will cost. In order to find a clear cut statement on cost, one has to reference a March 23, 2009 packet on the same topic.

Here is the March 2009 statement on bringing FiberNet broadband to all MCPS elementary schools:

DTS estimates that if $4 million to $5 million were allocated to FiberNet construction each year for FYl0 through FYI4, all elementary schools could be connected to FiberNet by FYI6.

Here are the questions that Councilmembers Valerie Ervin, Phil Andrews, Mike Knapp, Dutchy Trachtenberg and Nancy Navarro will be discussing at the September 21st meeting:

1. Broadband connectivity is a strong administrative and teaching tool, bringing internet-based and server-based information to all locations. The use of this connectivity and its impact on efficiency and student performance is anecdotal. More explicit analysis should be done to justify the investments made.

2. The Interagency Technology Policy and Coordination Committee (ITPCC) is recommending to the County Executive the completion-of FiberNet connections to some 119 elementary schools over the next four years as their highest priority. The Committees are still discussing this topic and will weigh in on this issue once the new CIP is released.

3. The end users of broadband connectivity and their unique needs should be heard directly by the Committees.

4. FiberNet is an expensive system to deploy and maintain. In return for this expense, MCPS and other broadband users should be able to demonstrate an explicit reduction in other connectivity expenses (cable modems, T-l lines, wireless systems, air cards, etc.), but making this analysis is difficult given the paucity of data.

The September 21, 2009 Joint Council Committee meeting is at 9:30 AM and will not be televised. But citizens call call the number below and listen to the meeting over a phone line.

You may listen to the Council Sessions by phone
For the 7th floor hearing room call 240-773-3377