Community Asked to Dig DEEP for Danvers High

In an effort to bridge the gap in reimbursement from state education authorities and what it will actually cost to outfit for its technology needs once the is complete, the Danvers community is being asked to dig deep by DEEP.

The volunteer led Danvers Educational Enrichment Partnership (DEEP) has launched a new and ambitious campaign to raise $500,000 for technology needs over the next two years. The design plans for the high school once it’s fully renovated in 2013 require $1.65 million worth of technology infrastructure, hardware and software, such as new labs, computers, interactive white boards and other 21st century learning tools.

School officials say 95 percent of existing district computers are Apple-based and only 5 percent are PCs used by the business office and 55 percent of all the computers are at least seven years old.

The Mass. School Building Authority is only paying for about $1.2 million (about $1,200 per student) of the new technology expense, however, leaving Danvers to come up with the balance.

“The United States is competing more than ever in a global economy that demands innovation in order to produce jobs. There is a critical need for our students to acquire 21st century learning skills,” said Superintendent of Schools Lisa Dana in a press release.

Dana added that many of those skills are reliant upon technology, which itself is always emerging. The vision for the Danvers Public Schools is to help students become more competitive by teaching them those skills with the equipment they need, she said.

“The DEEP board is turning to alumni, parents, educators, local businesses, corporations and foundations to help make this vision a reality for our students,” said Glenn Boutchie, a Danvers parent and president and treasurer of DEEP.

The School Committee unanimously gave its formal support of the campaign Monday night during its regular meeting.

Committee member Eric Crane noted he’s seen thermometer signs placed around town before for many other “worthy” causes and he feels this one is no different.

“I hope people will dig deep, no pun intended,” he said.

Committee chairman Arthur Skarmeas added that technology cuts were included in the proposed budget for 2012 – another reason he was glad to see this effort.

Dana said a committee is actively reaching out to alumni, families of current students and technology companies in the area on this front. But before the campaign even became official on Monday, one financial institution in town had contributed nearly 10 percent of the goal.

The Danversbank Charitable Foundation gave a $45,000 grant, which will be used to underwrite a business technology lab.

“What better way to support Danvers, Danvers High School and DEEP, than by providing fund to support a state-of-the-art high school and giving teachers the technology they need to help students succeed,” said Kevin Noyes, the executive director of the foundation.

10 state-of-the-art labs

Key to the technology plan are 10 specialized learning labs, which will require purchasing more than 200 desktop computers, three servers and an interactive white board for each lab, costing about $750,000. Then there’s installation of wired and wireless networks, desktop computer and interactive whiteboards for 80 classrooms, a computer network video distribution system, an online library client catalog system, e-Readers for the library and six administrative servers.

The 10 state-of-the-art laboratories will be designated as follows:

• 2 Art Labs
• 2 Business Tech Labs
• 1 CAD (computer-assisted design) Lab for communication analysis and design
• 1 Credit Recovery Lab
• 1 Engineering for Tomorrow Lab
• 1 Music Lab
• 1 TV Production Lab
• 1 World Language Lab

DEEP received approval from the Board of Selectmen last week to post the thermometer signs around town, showing the progress of the fundraising efforts. One thermometer would be placed in the square this April, May, the end of June during the Danvers Family Festival, July and October. To start off 2012, signs would be placed at the and . Thermometers will also rotate through the schools during the year.

“We hope the thermometer will continue to rise and show that to the community as we go,” Dana said. 

Save a seat

DEEP is also getting a little creative on soliciting donations to meet the goal. “Save a Seat in the New Auditorium” is one promotion aimed at bringing in at least $200,000.

Donors can choose to sponsor a variety of items inside the new auditorium, including individual seats, which they would then have their names permanently affixed to. There are 556 seats, ranging from general seating (331) up to the front row (13) and donors can “buy” one of those seats from $100 up to $1,500. The donor’s name would then be engraved on a plaque on the back of the seat.

There are also 1,000 virtual seats up for grabs at $50 each and the donor’s and would just be listed on both the DEEP and Danvers Public Schools Web sites.

But, if someone would like to sponsor the lobby, he or she could do so for $10,000, or the stage for $5,000 or the lighting for $2,500. If multiple donors give for those three items, it could bring in well over that $200,000 mark.

Dana said the hope is that a corporation may take advantage of this type of opportunity.

Donations can be made online; a Web sponsorship form is coming soon. For more information, visit www.supportdeep.org.