Hall schools look to lease technology

GAINESVILLE - Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield said Monday it's time to lease $2 million worth of technology in the classrooms.

Schofield told board members to expect a lease/purchase request next month to buy computer systems and laptops.

He plans to lease it now with a small amount of interest and pay it off when SPLOST revenues increase.

"What we will look for is an opportunity, with a very small down payment, to lease them until late 2008," he said.

Schofield said he has heard support from the board for classroom technology, and this is the way to get it.

Superintendent Schofield said he is not letting up on his goal of more rigor in the schools.

He told board members it's going to impact the budget, but its time to name the county's first school of choice for the International Baccalaureate program.

"We need to make sure you're willing to go there by making Johnson High School our first high school of choice; we gave a lot of thought to that,' Schofield said.

Schofield said naming Johnson as a school of choice requires a change of policy; up to now high school students had to attend the school in the district they live in.