http://www.freep.com/article/20110104/NEWS05/101040378/Detroit-Public-Schools-40-000-kids-to-get-laptops-from-stimulus-funds Detroit Public Schools: 40,000 kids to get laptops from stimulus fundsBy CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY
Free Press Education WriterDetroit Public Schools will spend $49 million in federal money to push technology in the district, including distributing 40,000 new laptop computers to students in grades 6-12 for use in class, as well as more than 5,000 new desktop computers.
Each DPS teacher also will get a laptop.
The computers are being funded by stimulus money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Details are to be announced this morning by DPS emergency financial manager Robert Bobb.
The district already has started distributing the computers and expects to deliver them all by the end of this school year, said Kisha Verdusco, a DPS spokeswoman.
The massive technology infusion totals 50,000 pieces of equipment -- including 4,300 printer/scanners and more than 500 HP desktop computers for the 138 early childhood classrooms in the district.
The announcement about the infusion of new computers will be made at 9 a.m. at Davis Aerospace High School, 10200 Erwin St. School personnel also will demonstrate anti-theft features that will be used to safeguard and track the computers.
You watch, 39,000 laptop computers will suddenly flood the Detroit pawn shops...
