New York Power Authority Donates Computers to Utica City School District

Contact
Carol Rodino
315-792-8511 (Mar 27)
518-433-6736 (Mar 28 & on)
carol.rodino@nypa.gov

Connie Cullen
914-390-8196
connie.cullen@nypa.gov

Printer-friendly version

Audio excerpts

March 27, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCY—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced today it will provide surplus computer equipment to two schools in the Utica City School District as part of its program to make refurbished computers available to schools statewide.

“The New York Power Authority is pleased to play a role, under Governor Pataki’s leadership, in the statewide program to donate computers to New York’s school children, which helps expand their access to the high tech resources so vital to learning in the 21st Century,” said Louis P. Ciminelli, chairman, New York Power Authority. 

The Power Authority is ready to deliver 10 computers each to the JFK Middle School and the Hughes Elementary School, both in Utica.  The Power Authority utilizes about 1,700 computers in its normal operation and replaces about 400 to 500 computers each year.

The surplus equipment is thoroughly cleaned and provided with a minimum of 64 megabytes of memory.  The computers have been tested with a new installation of the operating system, and any missing or broken parts have been replaced.

 “Computers are an essential resource in the education of our young people. I support the New York Power Authority's commitment to the education of Utica's young citizens through this smart reuse of computer resources so desperately needed to prepare our students for tomorrow's jobs," said Senator Raymond A. Meier.

“I commend the New York Power Authority for the donation of its surplus late-model computers to Utica’s classrooms which, along with NYPA’s lower-cost power and energy efficiency projects, continues the Power Authority’s long history of commitment to our region,” said State Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito.

“Recent research shows that the more technology you make available to students, the closer you can come to helping erase the achievement gaps confronting students from differing backgrounds,” said Daniel Lowengard, superintendent, Utica City School District.

“The generosity of the New York Power Authority brings us closer to our goals of one computer for every four students on the middle school level and one per every six student on the elementary school level,” said Bill Scott, director, staff development, planning and technology, Utica City School District.

The JFK Middle School was recently designated by the United States Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School which means the student body has show considerable improvements in their grades due to the commitment to excel on the part of the students, teachers and administrators.

NYPA’s computer donation program began in 2002 and has, so far, distributed computers to schools in Niagara Falls, the Bronx and Queens, in areas within the vicinity of NYPA facilities.