The Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) is helping to enhance the Pacifica School District’s technology infrastructure through bringing in a donation from outside the community. PEF has collaborated with Erik Heinrich, Director of Technology Infrastructure with the San Francisco School District, to assist with much needed replacements of network switches, wireless access points, firewalls, routers and remote access systems.

Heinrich, an advisor to PEF and a parent in Pacific, is aware of the challenges of raising funds for technology infrastructure equipment in K-12 public schools.

Through reaching out to a network of tech industry contacts, Heinrich was able to secure a generous donation of the equipment needed by PSD to complete the remaining updates of school labs and offices. The donation includes wireless access and upgrades of firewalls and routers, plus important licensing and support contracts for five years.

The Pacifica School District, in collaboration with the Pacifica Education Foundation, has been laying the groundwork to bring 21^st Century Learning skills and technology access to Pacifica’s underfunded schools for the last few years. In addition, teachers are receiving professional development they can integrate into classrooms, updated curriculum is being developed and bringing devices such as Chromebooks into the classroom.

I find it remarkable that this underfunded school was able to reach out and with Heinrich’s assistance, become the recipients of this generous donation. Raising funds for technology in public schools is challenging, but essential to teach today’s students. I am certain PSD will soon see the benefits of the 21^st century technology, especially in combination with their efforts to bring updated curriculum and teacher education into the classrooms.

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