School networking

The extent to which America has become dependent on computers and digital networks is truly amazing. Thanks to funding from a federal tax on telephone bills, the Cape Girardeau School District will soon have a new network provided by Charter Communications. The new network will speed up electronic communications. The additional annual cost will be absorbed in part by federal subsidies.

The list of benefits from the new network is impressive. It is used to keep track of attendance, provide e-mail service, account for lunch payments, provide online curriculum, monitor heating and air-conditioning systems and utilize interactive television at the Career and Technology Center. With the ITV system, the CTC will be able to offer satellite college classes. Distance-learning capabilities will give area students considerably more access to the classes they want to take.

As many businesses and individual computer users can attest, the amount of data being sent and received through computers has grown enormously. The new network should be able to accommodate the school district's needs and make good use of the latest technology.