When thinking about the area’s most technologically savvy schools, does the Pima School District come to mind? According to Technology Director Emmett McBride, it should.

McBride gave a presentation to the School ıoard at its meeting Wednesday and went over the large number of technology upgrades the district has made over the last couple of years. He said Pima has already been utilizing some of the new technology other schools in the Gila Valley only recently began to implement, such as the different types of media in the classroom.

Some of the improvements include beefed-up infrastructure with the implementation of a SonicWall NSA 5000 firewall through a partnership with Dan Hinton, numerous new I-Mac computers and new Apple laptops for every teacher, new technology training for multimedia presentations and replacing the district’s old 20-line analog phone system with a new 3 Com phone system and one T-1 line. He said the campus WiFi is so effective throughout the district you could use it if you were across the street. There is not a computer on campus more than two years old. McBride said the new phone system, unlike the former system, ensures there is always an available line out and enables the district to be compliant with emergency laws in case of loss of power. The new system also automatically records any new incoming calls and alerts school authorities when an outgoing emergency call has been made.

McBride said one of the biggest changes has been the technology training on the free software that came with the Apple computers, including photobook projects and podcasting. He said the students still have to do all the research and writing to go with a project, but now they are excited to do it because of the ability to use the multimedia and create a unique presentation on the topic.

Superintendent Joseph Farnsworth said it was important Pima stay on the cusp of any new technology.

“We need to expand the views and horizons of our kids so they know how to express themselves intelligently using technology,” he said.