FAQ's
Question #1: How does it work?
Answer #1: Donated surplus computer technology from businesses
are refurbished by the inmates at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham
and then distributed by the State Education Department to Maine’s most
needy schools and libraries.
Question #2: What are the costs?
Answer #2: End users (Schools and Libraries) will be charged
the cost of replacement parts and upgraded components. It is our estimate
that this cost is $150 per unit.
Question #3: Who qualifies?
Answer #3: Any registered Maine school or public library
qualifies. One library will be served for every 3 schools served. Priority
will be given to the most needy schools and libraries.
Question #4: Who can participate?
Answer #4: Two measures will determine the delivery priority.
Economic need and amount of technology currently in the school will select
schools. Measuring economic need is determined using the percentage of
students qualified for free and reduced lunch by a formula developed by
the Federal Government for E-rate program qualification. The other measure
of the amount of technology for schools is the number of students per computers
(1 computer for every 6 students) and for libraries it is the ratio of
annual book loans per number of computers (1 computer connected to the
Internet for every 7,420 annual circulation).Each institution may purchase
up to the number of computers needed to achieve the minimum ratio
Question #5: What is the basic computer
unit?
Answer #5: The actual unit will depend upon what is donated.
The minimum unit offer by the program is a computer with Windows 95 Operating
system, 1.2 Gig hard drive, 32 Megs of RAM, a CD-ROM player, and a network
card. In addition to the computer a color monitor, keyboard and mouse are
included. Each computer is Y2K compliant has new internal batteries and
has been bench tested.
Question #6: Why should businesses use this
program?
Answer #6: Tax incentives are achieved by donating to
a non-profit organization. The Tax Reform Act of 1997 offers additional
incentives to businesses donating computers less than 2 years old to schools.
Donations will be refurbished and made usable
The MCC at Windham has a trained technical supervisor knowledgeable
in refurbishing computers. He is supported by a number of select volunteer
inmates who spend their full workday on refurbishing computers. There is
no labor cost for the inmates' time. In fact, the inmates are receiving
on-the-job training leading towards an A+ computer technician certification.
This program avoids schools using valuable teacher time being drawn away
from teaching in order to refurbish computers.
Parts and Software
MCC has identified reliable, low cost suppliers of parts and supplies.
The program has a special purchase arrangement with Microsoft for Windows
95. Having all donations go through a single location allows for
parts from different computers to be combined together into a working computer
system.
Criteria for donations
The program will accept computers that can reasonably be refurbished
and made Internet ready. We are accepting computers with central processing
units that are 486DX or better. Also we accept power cords, hard drive
cables, printer cables and working keyboards, mouse, color monitors, and
printers.
Question #7: What businesses are involved
in the program?
Answer #7:
Donors and Partnerships
Bath Iron Works
L.L.Bean
Hannaford Brothers
Department of Defense
T. J. Maxx
Marshall's Department Stores
UNUM
Research and Development
National Semiconductor of South Portland
Provided central process units to be installed in some upgraded units
Libra Foundation
Provided funding for the creation of a computer-refurbishing center
at Maine Correctional Center in Windham and for the employment for 2 years
of a trainer/ supervisor.
Question #8: How do businesses donate computers?
Answer #8: Businesses need to contact either Ed Gomes
at the department of education or Robert Jaime at the Maine State Correctional
Center. Addresses and phone numbers are listed at the bottom
of the Computers for Schools and Libraries introduction page which may
be accessed by right-clicking HERE.
