School Committee Approves Use Of State Funds To Bring WiFi To District

The School Committee approved a plan to bring wireless internet into all district schools at a cost of $688,000 – paid for by a grant from the state – by a 6-0 vote John Boscardin was absent.

At present, according to district technology head Rich Booth, only about 2 percent of the district is wireless. 

"I'm just excited to do this for the district. I think it's going to be a fantastic opportunity for the kids," said Booth. 

Part of the funds will be used to upgrade the fiber cable into the high school data center – allowing for much faster connections. 

"It's like a garden hose," Booth said. "If you have a garden hose this big," said Booth, holding his thumb and forefinger in an "O" shape, "you can only get five gallons an hour. If you have a garden hose this big" – holding his two hands out a few inches from each other – "you get 500 gallons an hour."

Not everyone is thrilled with the prospect of wifi in every classroom. 

Shelley McDonald, teacher at NKHS, told the School Committee for the second time (the first was at a meeting in December) that wireless technology poses threats to health and learning.

"I would like the School Committee to consider the expert testimony and numerous studies that have been conducted and maybe reverse that decision," she said, referring to the vote approving wifi implementation.

McDonald presented the committee with an anti-wifi petition signed by 25 teachers.

Supt. Phil Auger addressed the issue in an interview in December.

"My response is that of course I'm very concerned about the safety of the kids," he said. "I personally have seen no evidence that wifi is a danger. ... Until I hear from a proper authority on an issue, I'm not going to change."