VHS is about to take another step into the modern world, becoming more technologically advanced.  The school is upgrading by installing Wifi throughout the building.

The new referendum that was passed last year also includes a network upgrade, which will allow the school’s computers and devices to work more efficiently. These changes are district wide and will have a positive effect on the PARCC exams coming up. At VHS, teachers will be able to get connected in their own classrooms rather than having to take “field trips” to the library or the computer lab.

Assistant Principal David Galbierczyk says he is looking forward to having a number of portable Chromebooks, which are small laptops, to use in the classrooms. Next year VHS will have carts of Chromebooks to be wheeled into classrooms and be linked to the Wifi. The students will then use the devices at their desks.

The administration is in the processes of making a policy on the Wifi availability. It has not been determined whether students will be able to use the school Wifi for their own personal devices, such as phones, laptops, and tablets.

The district is being cautious about potential issues with such a significant change. VHS math teacher and tech expert Rich Wertz says, “We are going to need to make sure everything is managed.”  The network and Wifi will be responsible for nearly 700 computers within the school district. If students use it for their own laptops, tablets, or phones this would double or even triple the usage. The network and Wifi will be put through tests to make sure it can handle the desired number of devices all at once.

The school’s priority is for the upgrades to cover the school resources first, including the desktops and Chromebooks. The Wifi will be turned on February 1 to the Chromebooks and be put to the test, with 150 students in the PARCC exams using the Wifi at once to check its capacity. “Next fall the Wifi will hopefully be opened up to students and teachers,” says Mr. Wertz.

Senior Gionna Melchione, like most students perhaps, sees a different advantage to Wifi than the school intended. “I am happy students can use the Wifi and not use up all their data in school and have to pay $40 a month.”