Volunteers from the 66 Federal Credit Union were on hand on the morning of Sept. 17 at Central Middle School to help make over a pair of computer labs.
The 14 volunteers – the effort was part of the annual United Way Day of Caring program – worked on Central's biggest computer lab, featuring 46 units, as well as another one with 24 stations. In the big lab, they put down carpet while also painting the computer desks. In the other lab, they installed hooks to keep the computer cable wires off of the floor.
The United Way's Day of Caring program encourages volunteer efforts to assist non-profit organizations, such as schools.
“They've been a huge help,” said Darin Messerli, the technology education teacher at Central. “What they will get done in one day, it would have taken us two weeks to do.
“This has been great.”
The 46-station lab is located in the basement. It was originally put together in January and students were able to work on it last spring. But Central staff members wanted the lab to evolve past its makeshift look and have been working on it during the initial part of the current academic year, thus it hasn't been utilized. After the work by the 66 Federal Credit Union volunteers, however, the lab should be ready for student use by Monday.
Once up and running, the primary function of the lab will be for state testing. However, teachers will be able to let their classes use it for research projects and other exercises as well. Also, since there are so many units in the lab, two classes will be able to use it at once.
“We'll be able to have faculty workshops down here also,” said Messerli of the lab. “This will be a tremendous asset.”
Home to sixth through eighth grade students, Central boasts several computer labs throughout the building. But other than the new 46-unit lab, none feature more than around 30 computers. The 24-station lab which 66 Federal Credit Union volunteers worked on will be used primarily for sixth-grade reading exercises.
Messerli and Tom Rovenstine, who teaches computer science, started Central's technology committee in 2005. The aim of the group was to upgrade technology features throughout the school. The 46-station computer lab was one of the committee's projects. Last month, Central and fellow Bartlesville Public School District middle school Madison each received $25,000 Gateway to Technology grants courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
Messerli liked what he saw on Wednesday morning as 66 Federal Credit Union volunteers worked to make over the pair of computer labs.
“The next logical step,” said Messerli, looking ahead to further progress at Central, “is to upgrade the computers.”
Business development officer Sara Pannell was one of 14 volunteers from the 66 Federal Credit Union who pitched in to work on two computer labs at Central Middle School on Sept. 17 as part of the United Way's Day of Caring effort.