Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994 TAG: 9402240103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Most classrooms at Crystal Spring have one computer. Because there are so few, the pupils don't have the chance to spend much time on them.
But that could change soon for Matthew and other pupils at Crystal Spring.
When First Union National Bank acquired Dominion Bankshares, it replaced several hundred computers as part of a consolidation and upgrading of the bank's computer operations.
So what happened to the old computers?
About 120 were given to school systems in the Roanoke area, including 40 that were donated to Crystal Spring.
Roanoke County received 55 computers and Salem, 10.
Others were donated to community and nonprofit agencies that Dominion had supported with contributions in the past.
For the schools, it was almost like a Christmas gift. Some of the computers were only 2 or 3 years old. Most were IBM 286 and 386 models.
But there was one catch. The computers didn't come equipped with software programs such as Kid's Zoo, Claris Works and Writer Rabbit.
At Crystal Spring, an ambitious fund-raising campaign has begun to raise $10,000 to buy software.
Principal Marsha Christy said parents, teachers and school administrators are working together to raise the money. About $1,500 has been collected.
Christy said the school will buy software that can be used on the IBM computers as well as on the Macintosh computers it has now.
The pupils in teacher Dana Rocco's first-grade class are hoping the computers might be ready to use by the end of March.
Adrienne Ballin, a pupil in Rocco's class, said she is looking forward to using the computers.
"I hope it will be soon," she said.
School Superintendent Wayne Harris praised First Union for the gift, saying the computers are a boost to the school system's effort to upgrade educational technology.
Several federally funded magnet schools are equipped with dozens of computers, but many city schools have only a few.
Harris has proposed a $7.5 million program over the next five years to buy more computers and upgrade technology in the classroom.
Byron Yost, First Union's Roanoke regional president, said the school systems received the greatest number of computers.
Others were given to such organizations as the Mill Mountain Theatre, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, Festival in the Park and Clean Valley Council.
"We had not been able to make cash donations to them [because of the economy and other factors]. We looked at this as a way to help compensate for the lack of a donation," Yost said.
At a reception this week for teachers who have received instructional minigrants, Harris said he has been impressed by First Union's commitment to the program and public education.
"By strengthening the public schools, you strengthen the quality of life in the region," Harris said. "In this way, we will all remain on the cutting edge in a quickly changing world and in the global marketplace."
Ben Jenkins, president of First Union National Bank of Virginia, said public education is important to his company.
The grants of up to $500 help teachers supplement their instructional programs.
"We want to support the minigrants, because we want to help teachers plant a seed of hope for children," Jenkins said.
"We thank you," Jenkins told the teachers, "because this will be beneficial to the children."
He said First Union also is committed to a time-away-from-work program that allows company employees to take time off to participate in school activities.
The bank permits employees up to four hours per month with pay to participate as volunteers or parents. Activities may include tutoring, speaking to classes or chaperoning field trips.
by CNB