“This application failed to launch,” was a pop-up box commonly seen by many students on the large amount of computers that failed to work in past years at Rocky River High School. This year, new progress has been made in the technology department, and RRHS has two new computer labs with brand new computers. This advance was made possible thanks partly to librarian Cherie Pandora.

“We needed new computers for years; there wasn’t enough room for all of the students. We needed 30 computers so that a whole class could sit in one place,” Pandora said. Last year in total, 979 classes came to the media center to use the computers.

Pandora applied for the grant initially in October 2007, but she was turned down. The teachers at Rocky River High School gave Pandora ideas, proof read the grant multiple times, and helped her clarify her writing. She also had letters of support from the technology committee, the Rocky River Public Library, and a friend from Kent State University.

As a result of all of her hard work and efforts, on her second try, Pandora received the grant. Unfortunately, they couldn’t buy the new computers with just the grant. The school had to raise $8,000 to pay for 25 percent of the grant. Thanks to help from the Rocky River Education Foundation, the Class of 2007’s leftover prom money, and the library budget, the school was able to raise the money in a short period of time.

“Having the computers will be better for students, classes, and teachers. There’s more room and everyone is in one place. It’s great to have a teaching lab in the library,” Pandora said.

The desktop computers were purchased the last week of March, complete with Microsoft Office, Adobe, SMART Board Software, Internet Explorer, and more. A special printer was purchased exclusively for the lab thanks to the Class of 2007.

“The 30 computers are faster, and they are brand new for a change, which is nice,” Pandora said.

Along with the new computers in the library, new computers were also purchased for the Mac lab. The computers were purchased through the district office and the old Macs were taken to Goldwood Primary school.

“It’s not about the sake of upkeep for the new computers; it’s better to have all of our computers the same platform,” principal Debra Bernard said. The school district plan, as part of the recent levy, promised to upgrade our technology, which is how the new computers came to be at the end of the summer.

“Everything we do is about providing all students with the newest and best technology that we can. It’s all about student learning,” Bernard said.