Despite Hurricane, Winchester Schools Ready to Go

 Superintendent William McAlduff was getting ready Friday for school to start next week, despite the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene. 

“Right now, we’re just preparing for having all the staff back Monday, as well as the students on Tuesday,” McAlduff said.

“We’re monitoring the weather closely with the hurricane and working with DPW and others, and hope to have everything ready as planned,” he added.

This year, for the first time, all Winchester schools will have wireless access to the Internet. McAlduff said wireless Internet access will give teachers and staff more flexibility.

Before this summer, only the ,  and had wireless capability.

“In the schools that were not wireless, if there were workshops going on where teachers could use their laptops, they were not able to,” said McAlduff, noting that all Winchester school staff have laptops. 

After the technology upgrade this summer, however, all elementary schools in town will finally have wireless access.

“It simply will allow staff to be more flexible in how they use their laptops,” McAlduff said.

Teachers will be able to connect wirelessly when using their laptops in workshops and meetings, for instructional purposes and for planning purposes.

“It will provide staff access not only in our own network but to the whole Internet,” McAlduff said.

Having wireless capability in schools also paves the way for future technology and the day when students will need to use it as well, he added.