GENEVA - - Cutting-edge technology in schools can make a difference in the future employability of students, Geneva schools director of technology Scott Huggins said.

Huggins presented the Geneva Board of Education with the hard facts about computer software during the BOE's monthly school board meeting Wednesday.

"I believe that you get what you pay for. And I feel that knowing the right software when going out into the business world, or to college, can prepare students properly," Huggins said. "There is a difference between knowing free software versions and knowing the professional versions, inside and out."

Classrooms will be provided with new software to help students prepare the Ohio Graduation Test, Spanish, English, math lessons and online encyclopedias, Huggins said.

Huggins installed 194 computers this year, replacing the district's 2003 hardware.

"Again, we are preparing for the financial unknown (in the district). If we replace one-third to one-fifth of the district's computers every three to five years, it won't be a huge ordeal if we have to skip a year," Huggins said.

Eighth-grade students will enjoy new computers in their classrooms this school year, Huggins said.

In addition to the computer replacements and upgrades, Huggins has extended the district's fiberoptic network and applied for high-speed Internet for all the district's schools. A federal program provides 75 percent of funds for such networks, Huggins said.

"All computers in the district are now upgraded to network compatibility. Though we are not approved yet for the high-speed Internet, the jump would increase the district's bandwidth for improvement in Internet speed and access," he said.

Huggins also installed a firewall to protect the school computers from viruses and to help monitor Internet traffic.

Forgetful students can't seem to remember their user names and passwords for the district's network, but Huggins has a solution to the password problem.

"I smirk about this a little because the network access program is something I was really excited about, and it has really failed," Huggins said. "The first thing we tell the students is not to write their password down, and then they forget it."

Now, when students are prompted to provide a password, an alternate screen will ask them a personal question. If the student answers the question correctly, their password will be provided, Huggins said.

"This promotes accountability, monitoring and personal file security for the students," he said.

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