Computer Program to Expand – third-graders will receive free machines

article taken from The Stamford Advocate September 24, 2003
By Charles Dianis

STAMFORD – A program that gives free, refurbished computers to fourth-grade students plans to expand its offerings this year.

For the first time, third-graders also will be served by TechCycle, a partnership between Stamford Public Schools, area businesses and community organizations.

“We’re prepared to make this happen. We’ve gotten some nice generous donations,” said Garry Feldman, chairman of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.

Computers donated to TechCycle are reconditioned by high school students and given to students who have informed the school district they don’t own one. Last year, TechCycle delivered 144 computers to fourth-graders.

The program was founded in 2001 after Superintendent of Schools Anthony Mazzullo sought a way to get computers into more students’ homes. He said he is now aiming to provide computers for third-grade students.

“It’s our hope now that every year we will target the third grade,” Mazzullo said. “We think that between third and fourth grade, we could give out 400 computers this year.”

Feldman said TechCycle chose third grade because it wants students to have a computer to prepare for the Connecticut Mastery Test, which is administered every September to fourth-, Sixth- and eight- grade students. The CMT measures proficiency in math, reading and writing.

“We’re really trying to eliminate the digital divide,” said Feldman, president of Stamford based U.S. Computer Connection.

TechCycle also may offer computers to seventh-graders this year if it meets the demand in the elementary schools, Feldman said.

Before this year, donated computers were refurbished by students at the Academy of Information Technology high school and the state-run J.M. Wright Regional Vocational Technical School. Feldman said students at Stamford and Westhill high schools are expected to join them this year.

Each family receives a computer with a Pentium 2 or Pentium 3 processor and a keyboard, a monitor and mouse, and a modem for accessing the Internet.

TechCycle also installs the Microsoft Windows98 operating system and Microsoft Word, a word-processing program. Families are given a tutorial and provided with instructions before they can take the computer.

-For more information on TechCycle or to donate a computer, visit www.techcycle.org or call 977-5499