FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. , April 7, 2005 – IBM today announced that Fayetteville Public Schools, one of the largest public school districts in Arkansas, has deployed more than 700 ThinkPad notebooks to its certified staff, demonstrating the district’s commitment to innovation and excellence through the use of technology.
A key factor in the deployment of ThinkPad notebooks at Fayetteville stemmed from the requirement of teachers to take 60 hours of professional development courses outside the classroom each year. Equipped with wireless-enabled ThinkPad notebooks and campus-wide wireless networks, faculty members are able to meet state requirements while not falling behind in their teaching responsibilities. The mobility and functionality of the ThinkPad notebooks, along with the wireless capabilities, give faculty members more access to students and increase productivity throughout the school year.
“At Fayetteville we’re really focusing on the utilization of technology within our district,” said Susan Cromwell, Director of District Technology Programs, Fayetteville Public Schools. “One of our primary goals is to provide our faculty with the technology necessary for advanced career growth while enriching the educational experience of our students.”
With more than 8,200 students in more than 15 schools, Fayetteville Public School District plans to continually utilize technology advancements to enhance the learning experience for its students and faculty. The Fayetteville School District allocates technological resources to improve communication among faculty, staff, parents and the community.
About Fayetteville Public Schools The Fayetteville School District has been recognized for decades as a leader and innovator in public education in Arkansas and in the region. Fayetteville was the first public school district in the South to voluntarily integrate its schools following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. Fayetteville was also the school district in Arkansas to utilize a fiber-optic network to connect its schools.
Fayetteville High School annually produces the most Advanced Placement Scholars of any Arkansas high school, and Fayetteville’s average ACT score is the highest in the state and compares well with other nationally recognized high schools. Fayetteville High School graduates are annually accepted into some of the finest college and universities in the nation, including Harvard, Stanford, Vanderbilt, MIT, and all three service academies. For more information, visit www.fayar.net .
About ThinkVantage Technologies ThinkVantage Technologies are available on ThinkPad notebooks and ThinkCentre desktops, which will soon be a part of the Lenovo Group. ThinkVantage Technologies enable customers to quickly deploy, connect, protect and support their PCs. These tools help make personal computing systems less dependent on IT staff for basic tasks such deployment, backup, maintenance and security, freeing up users and IT staff to focus on competitive advantages in their business. According to industry analysts, costs associated with deployment, support and disposal account for approximately 80 percent of the entire PC lifecycle cost. More information is available at www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvantagetech.html