Duval County Public Schools is set to use more than $32 million to help hasten technology upgrades, mostly because of a no-interest federal loan.
The school system will receive $29 million in federal funds it will be required to pay back over 15 years. It had to submit a proposal and compete for the loan.
Duval schools also had to raise $3.6 million in private local contributions to qualify for the loan.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said the money comes at a critical time when the district has seen its technology funding reduced in past years.
He said the funds are only the beginning of a strategy where the district continually hunts for similar opportunities.
?We can?t just sit and wait,? Vitti said. ?I think this is a great example of being proactive and knowing where our gaps are.?
The district plans on using the money to improve technology in 41 of its high-poverty elementary and middle schools. Wireless systems, desktop computers, laptop computers and tablets are among the plans for the new funds.
Vitti said he doesn?t think the district will have to hire more staff to maintain the new equipment.
It will use the money in four phases of implementation to be completed by 2014.
The federal loan will be paid back incrementally from the district?s capital fund.
Eleven families and organizations contributed the private funds. This does not have to be paid back.
Dan Edelman, a local accountant and education advocate, contributed to the private funds and helped in the fundraising effort.
About half of the money had been raised prior to Vitti starting as the superintendent, but Vitti said the effort had ?stalled a little bit.?
Edelman, who wouldn?t say how much he and his wife, Cindy, donated, said they contributed to help the district improve its technology system ?but also to show the support in the community to bring about change in the school system.?
He said it would have been much more difficult to raise the money had there not been a new superintendent and a new majority of School Board members.
Vitti has generated ?a renewed enthusiasm and support among the community to bring the education system in Duval County where it needs to be,? Eldelman said.
The loan award is an example of how the community will step up when it is shown a specific need, Vitti said.
?This is one of the first examples of the private sector coming forward and having a restored faith in the public school system,? he said. The contributions exemplify a belief from the community that the school system will maximize community support, he said.
Eldelman said they are still about $70,000 short of the full $3.6 million needed.
He has about 90 days to raise the rest of the money.
Vitti and School Board members will hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the district?s headquarters to announce the funds.
topher.sanders@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4169
Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-12-17/story/duval-county-schools-get-32-million-technology
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