Sometimes the right thing doesn't look great politically. New York City's efforts to future-proof its schools are coming under fire, with Manhattan's borough president pointing out that the city is spending half a billion dollars on technology (mostly network infrastructure) when it may have to fire thousands of teachers. This kind of spending is necessary, however, especially when the long-term sustainability of our present models of schooling is under fire. Never mind the fact that the city couldn't legally use the cash to pad the operating budget anyway ? the investments look smart on the merits.
As the Times article notes, many schools are already finding their infrastructure inadequate to support tools like smartboards, computer labs, and adaptive testing that are or will become standard features of 21st century schools. More importantly, NYC DOE's Innovation Zone schools are developing thoughtful methods for using technology in the classroom effectively, a sharp contrast to the "smartboards and fairy dust" approach to networking classrooms seen in some other districts and charter networks. In order to bend the cost curve so that tailored instruction for all kids is affordable, districts will have to spend more money on technology, not less. A half billion dollar investment may be tough to swallow, even in a huge district like New York City, but it should pay dividends for years to come.
? Chris Tessone
