3 Schools to Pioneer Technology Program

Three schools have been chosen to pioneer the Irvine Unified School District’s technology plan, but the decision caused some school board members to question the fairness of the process.

Irvine High School, Lakeside Middle School and Alderwood Basics Plus Elementary School were chosen for the installation of computers and cabling worth $190,000. The three schools will become “demonstration sites.”

The schools were singled out in part for their staff members’ technological expertise and for the “challenge” the buildings present to the installation of computer cables, said Richard Gallup, an engineer with Fluor Daniel Inc. who was on the selection panel.

The three schools were selected more than a year ago but not announced because the county’s bankruptcy filing forced suspension of the technology program.

School board member Tom Burnham said the selection unfairly concentrates the demonstration sites in one area of the city. Graduating Alderwood students typically attend nearby Lakeside.

“It seems to be a little out of balance,” said Burnham, who voted with trustee Hank Adler against the selection of the three sites.

But board member Margie Wakeham supported what she called a tough but impartial decision.

“We’ve waited a year, and I personally don’t think it would be appropriate to wait any longer,” Wakeham said. “We need to live with the criteria that we set.”