In late 1998, Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) in Washington expanded its personal computer inventory by adding nearly 1,000 Hewlett Packard (HP) Vectra PCs. These units were purchased for three of Vancouver's remodeled high schools to attain a student-to-computer ratio of 4:1 across the district. A new school, Skyview High, opened in 1997 and was equipped with 370 HP Vectra PCs at that time. Vancouver's current enrollment exceeds 21,000 students spread among 21 elementary schools, five middle schools and six high schools.

Vancouver has been recognized consistently over the past decade by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) for providing national leadership in integrating technology into education. VPS employs a unique instructional model dividing a student's school experience into three parts:

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One-third consists of individualized learning such as independent reading or working on a computer; One-third involves collaboration among a team of students working on a specific project; One-third is devoted to large group instruction.

VPS also features an array of exciting choices for high school students in each of the six district high schools. These programs allow students to learn within an area of aptitude, talent, and interest to be prepared for broad occupational fields upon graduation (Science & Health, Business & Marketing, Social & Human Services, Technical, and Arts & Communication). HP personal computers are used in all high school magnet and career development programs for the following activities:

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Student assignments/projects Documenting and reporting student achievement Internet research Desktop and Web publishing GroupWise e-mail and scheduling AutoCAD for drafting courses Microsoft Office for business education courses Staff communication with the business community and advisory committees

In addition, HP desktop PCs are used in all VPS libraries, which run Follett software. The district plans to upgrade these Follett systems with new HP personal computers in 1999.

As HP becomes the standard PC brand at VPS, teachers, administrators and students are enjoying HP advantages. According to Dr. James Parsley, superintendent in Vancouver since 1980, "We understand and appreciate the great working relationship between HP and its reseller, R&D Industries of Bellevue, Washington. The local service and support from RDI-Beaverton, the competitive prices for the specifications we need in Vancouver, HP Top Tools and the overall HP product quality and reliability are the perfect combination to meet our long-term technology needs."

HP Top Tools was a deciding factor for VPS in the decision to standardize on HP desktop models. Vancouver was interested especially in HP Top Tools' data protection and security management features in addition to the basic network management, efficient inventory capabilities, hardware diagnostics, and crash and virus protection provided by the proprietary software.

Dave Adams, the sales manager at R&D Industries, worked closely with VPS to meet both the hardware and ongoing service and support needs. "Like every customer, Vancouver has its own unique needs for ongoing support and maintenance. We work closely with Vancouver schools to provide the high quality of support expected by HP and demanded by the customer."

HP will continue to work closely with VPS. In addition to meeting the hardware needs, HP awarded a $90,000 grant to VPS in the spring of 1998 to pilot a hands-on approach to K-6 science instruction. "We believe that the relationship between Hewlett-Packard and the Vancouver Public Schools could be a model for businesses and schools across the nation," said Dr. Parsley.

On April 28-30, 1999, the National School Boards Association and the Institute for the Transfer of Technology to Education will host a three-day site visit to Vancouver Public Schools. NSBA selects only one or two school districts a year for this prestigious honor, and HP will be a major sponsor of the event.