“The Affton School Board Tuesday night approved a bid from Anixter to supply wireless network access equipment for Affton High School. The district will purchase 28 access points from Anixter at a cost of $12,872.

Demand for wireless access has been growing at the high school. Currently, wireless access is available only in the science department, the auditorium, and a small number of social studies classrooms.

Over the summer, the district installed cabling to expand the wireless network to all instructional areas. Software for the new system will be purchased in December.

The district is taking an innovative and inexpensive approach to the installation part of the project. Students from the high school will install the new equipment under the direction of volunteer Michael McNeil, an Affton High School parent who owns an IT company. The installation of the equipment will be completed at no cost to the district.

“This project has been on our radar for a while now, but we haven’t had the funds to fully implement it,” said Ron Spicer, technology coordinator for the Affton School District. “This is a great merging of a parent willing to take the time and volunteer his expertise with a group of students who want to learn and are willing to help.”

Anixter was the lowest of four bids the district received.”

Read more: http://www.southcountytimes.com/Articles-i-2006-12-22-65803.113117-Board-OKs-Spending-12872-For-Wireless-Network-At-High-School.html#ixzz1ZgiRVykU

Printed in the South County Times on December 22, 2006

Article by Murray Farish