ST. LOUIS SCHOOL DISTRICT, AT&T INC., DELL, INC. & UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI–ST. LOUIS, TO OPEN REGION’S FIRST “SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE”

Dr. Creg E. Williams, Superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools announced today that in partnership with AT&T Inc., Dell Inc. and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the District will open the Midwest’s first technologically advanced “School of the Future” for 250 eighth and ninth graders in September 2006. Joining the Superintendent for today’s announcement were Debra Hollingsworth, AT&T Missouri’s vice president of external affairs, Brian Wood, Dell’s executive vice president and Dr. Charles Schmitz, Dean of UM-St. Louis College of Education.

The School of the Future, to be located in the Carnahan School in South St. Louis, will offer a technology-rich high school curriculum that gives teachers and students access to some of the nation’s most advanced classroom technology available. The technology will be interwoven throughout every aspect of school life.

Through the Dell School Architecture – Dell’s portfolio of offerings designed to help school districts plan, deploy and manage their technology – the company and SLPS will ultimately use wireless technology, Dell notebooks, printers, network servers and a variety of other devices to allow students at Carnahan School to access the latest tools for education.

AT&T is continuing its long-standing support of the St. Louis Public Schools by partnering with the School of the Future in a variety of ways. Among them: developing and delivering appropriate curriculum and content training sessions for teachers, library staff and administrators; bolstering thought leadership via AT&T executives who will serve on key committees associated with the school; working to network with other appropriate community and business leaders in support of the school; and relaying financial assistance for priorities, as jointly identified.

School of the Future students will have access to a college preparatory track, as well as a technology-based career track. Students will also experience increased digital literacy, enhanced school-to-home communication, paperless instruction, “Anytime-Anywhere” instruction and internships.

“For our children to be successful and competitive in college and in the rapidly changing job market, it is imperative that they have access to up-to-date and relevant technology today,” said Dr. Williams. “Our School of the Future is an important first step. Our goal is to help prepare these young people for the challenges that lie ahead and show them how promising their futures can be. Our partnership with AT&T, Dell and UM-St. Louis will provide them with an exciting opportunity and the tools and technological skills they need to be successful in life.”

The School of the Future is being developed by a team of educators, parents, community members, businesses and community-based organizations. The school will serve as a model for how technology can improve student grades, attendance and graduation rates by using computers more widely both in instruction and school management.

Dr. Williams stressed that this is the first time the District has partnered with a major corporation on a project of such magnitude.

The “School of the Future” is designed to:

--Improve student academic achievement
-- Enhance the educational environment
-- Increase teacher productivity
-- Improve administrative effectiveness
-- Provide a measurable return on the district’s investment

Darnetta Clinkscale, President of the Board Education said, “Providing the children of St. Louis with quality education is our top priority. It is crucial for the business community to play an active role in the education of its future workforce. We are delighted that both AT&T and Dell have stepped up to the plate and chosen St. Louis for this pioneering project.”

“AT&T has long echoed the St. Louis Public Schools’ vision ‘to ensure that every student achieves his or her fullest potential to live, work, and prosper in a global, technologically advancing world,’” said Ms. Hollingsworth. “This School of the Future is a significant step toward making this type of learning environment the School of the Present. Technology truly makes a difference in enhancing children’s education, and we’re pleased to partner on this important initiative.”

“Technology in education is about helping students learn and helping teachers teach,” said Mr. Wood. “This project has the potential to dramatically improve the education of the students who attend the school while giving the teachers a chance to build a technology-rich curriculum right from the start.”

Dr. Schmitz added, “We are delighted to be the university partner in this important ‘School of the Future’ project with the St. Louis Public Schools. Our collaborative work with the school district is substantial and highly important to us. We are pleased with the confidence that Superintendent Williams has shown in the College of Education at UM-St. Louis by asking us to be part of this important partnership.”

In addition to helping design and implement the technology, Dell will also help the school district train technologically savvy teachers, conduct infrastructure analysis at Carnahan, provide financial assistance as determined by Dell, and provide professional development strategies as approved by SLPS teachers, administrators, students and parents on using technology effectively throughout the life of the “School of the Future” project.

The Carnahan Middle School, built in 2003, is a modern facility that will be easily converted from a middle school to a high school – a conversion that is fully consistent with the District’s development of community-based small high schools.

It is expected that the School of the Future will open its doors to its first students in September, 2006. A minimum of 35% of the students will come from the surrounding community. The current 7th graders at Carnahan Middle School will transition into the School of the Future as 8th graders. Applications will be accepted for the 9th grade class beginning in March. Criteria for admission include grades, MAP scores, disciplinary history, attendance and recommendations from teachers and community members. Student candidates must also submit an essay expressing their interest in attending the school.

Dr. Williams thanked AT&T, Dell and the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Education for their vision, commitment to education and generous support of this endeavor.

The Superintendent also singled out the Carnahan Community Task Force, led by Alderman Craig Schmid, as well as Alderman Ken Ortmann for their leadership in making the School of the Future a reality.