City schools to get G.O.P. computers

While many New Yorkers who disagree with the Republicans’ agenda objected to the presence of the Republican National Convention and others breathed a sigh of relief when the event was no longer tying up Midtown, for New York City public schools, at least, the convention added up to a benefit.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Nextel Communications Inc. President & C.E.O. Tim Donahue, and IBM Vice President of Government Programs Christopher Caine announced last week that New York City public schools and city social services will get many of the desktop and laptop computers, telephones and their supporting networks and cellular phones that were provided to New York City Host Committee 2004, the nonprofit entity established for the purpose of supporting the 2004 National Republican Convention.

Added together, the computers, phones and accompanying technologies total more than $5 million — IBM computers and accessories total more than $1 million; Cisco phones and their technologies more than $4 million; Nextel phones $120,000.

“New York City’s public schools…will benefit immensely from the Republican National Convention,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “Because of the generosity of these good corporate citizens, city public school children and school administration officials can now count on instant and reliable technology…. These generous donations demonstrate that there is broad support for New York from industry leaders, and that with their invaluable assistance, New York City can strive to be a city that can successfully host big events and big ideas.”

Nextel Communications, Inc., the official wireless service provider of the 2004 Republican National Convention, will donate the 1,200 wireless phones provided to the Convention for use by Department of Education staff to improve and maintain communication on school-related operations.

IBM provided the N.Y.C. Host Committee 2004 with 540 desktop computers, 111 laptops, 44 printers, 27 servers and related accessories. The IBM equipment was used at 2 Penn Plaza for staff operations, in Madison Sq. Garden for running and producing the convention, in the James A. Farley Post Office Building to support the convention’s media center and in the N.Y.C. Host Committee 2004 Volunteer Office for recruiting and training volunteers. The desktop computers, ThinkPad laptops, servers and printers will be used to improve access to technology in a range of New York City public schools as well as to increase access to social services.

In addition, 20 Global Electric Motorcars Daimler Chrysler donated to the N.Y.C. Host Committee 2004 will be given to the city’s Department of Parks & Recreation.