| California prison program offers Mandrake Linux to schools |
by Jill Ratkevic
Mandrake Linux is now being offered as part of the California Department of Corrections Computer Refurbishing Program. The Linux desktop OS will join Microsoft Windows as an option in a joint partnership between the California Department of Corrections (CDC) and the Technology Training Foundation of America (TTFA).
California schools can choose to have the Mandrake Linux desktop pre-installed on reconditioned computer systems from an inmate-run refurbishing program.The computers are made available to eligible schools for free by the TTFA.
"The plan is to give all schools another option. They may now choose to receive Mandrake as the operating system provided on their system. Offering California Public Schools the option to receive computers loaded with the Linux Operating System, free of charge, will allow schools one more opportunity to utilize the refurbished computers immediately." commented Ray Kirkpatrick, Supervisor of Vocational Instruction, Computer Refurbishing Program Coordinator.
Mandrake's easy-to-use desktop operating system will be available to California students as an introduction to open source. Productivity applications, such as OpenOffice.org 1.0, provide interoperability with the Microsoft Office. Offering a Linux option will allow students to experience Linux firsthand and make them aware of choices.
Mandrake Chairman Jacques Le Marois commented, "There has never been a better time for schools to implement Linux desktops into the classrooms. With the coming release of Mandrake Linux 9.1, students will find the desktop to be extremely full-featured and intuitive. We look forward to offering our solutions through the TTFA and California Department of Corrections."
Added Jeanette Roache, President, TTFA, "We applaud Mandrake Linux for stepping up and offering a viable alternative in an operating system to meet the technology needs of our educational based recipients." The CDC partners with the nonprofit organization to handle the computer pickups and placement into schools.
A win-win program
California faces severe budget cuts that could impact educational programs like many states this year. In an effort increase the ratio of computers-to-kids in the classroom, the CDC is using prison labor to improve schools and train inmates at the same time. It is a program that benefits everyone -- even the taxpayer.
In a economic downturn, just how well is the program doing? Kirkpatrick shares that the program has produced "as many as 10,000 computers per year but this past year has been not as fruitful, probably around 7,000 units. I think it is because of the economy . . . many users are electing to keep their systems a little longer than in the past. The bright side is that the equipment we are receiving is of better quality."
The CDC's program has been successful for inmates who have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to recondition the computer equipment before it is sent to a public school, K through 12. Kirkpatrick revealed that the program is currently working with Thompson Prometric to establish A+ Certification testing for all qualified inmates before they are released from prison. By promoting a certification, the CDC program is offering a qualification to inmates reentering the workforce after release.
The CDC's program has seen a rotating workforce of inmates refurbish just over 88,000 computers for state classrooms since 1994. The Computer Refurbishing Program reconditions donated surplus computers that come from state agencies, private businesses, and individual donors through both the CDC and TTFA programs. The system recovery rate is improving all the time and now approaches about 65 percent, according to Kirkpatrick.
Do you or your company have computers that could be reconditioned for public school use? For information about how to donate a system to be refurbished by the California Department of Corrections through the TTFA, visit this link.
(Click here for further information)
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