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36 CS donates computers to Guam school

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angelique Smythe
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
Recently, the 36th Communications Squadron donated 42 computers to St. Francis Catholic School in Yona, Guam.

We give our excess computers to different Guam public schools each year as part of the Department of Defense Computers for Learning program, said Jane Sasai, 36th CS base equipment control officer and one of the project leaders.

According to computersforlearning.gov, the CFL program encourages agencies, to the extent permitted by law, to transfer computers and related peripheral equipment excess to their needs directly to schools and some educational nonprofit organizations.

St. Francis Catholic School's old 1998 computers were removed by 14 of Andersen's volunteers, and newer systems were installed in each classroom.

With the value of each system being approximately $1,200, donations totaled more than $50,400. The Microsoft Operating System and Microsoft Office software cost approximately $500; each CPU, monitor, keyboard and mouse totaled approximately $500; and the labor, configuration, back-up and installation accomplished by 36th CS members during after duty hours on a weekend would have cost $200 per computer, said Capt. Cope Leuenberger, 36th CS, one of the program's leaders.

This is a three phase program.

"Phase II of the program is currently underway," said Captain Leuenberger. "The 36th CS team is working with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, members from the local telecommunication industry to provide St. Francis Catholic School with their first internet connectivity for their computer lab and library."

Phase III will extend the internet capability to each of the classrooms. The estimated completion date is March 31.