New computers for P.S. 72

New computers for P.S. 72

P.S. 72 students celebrated the opening of a new computer lab that features the latest Apple computers.

The $150,000 computer lab includes 32 desktop computers for student use, a new server, 25 MacBook laptop computers, and five smartboards, as well as host of other equipment that should help the students train with the latest technology now available, said teacher Eleni Panagos.

The purchase of the technology was made possible through a capital allocation by Councilman Jimmy Vacca. He was on hand with P.S. 72 principal Margarita Colon to listen to a performance by the school choir and preside over a ribbon cutting for the new lab on Friday, January 27.

“I managed to get money from the New York City capital budget,” Vacca said. “I have allocated funds for this computer lab and the new auditorium at P.S. 72 that was dedicated last year. I want the students at P.S. 72 to have every tool at their disposal to succeed.”

Learning about technology is necessary for success in this day and age, and many of the computers previously in the lab dated back to the mid-1990s and were often non compatible with one another, Vacca said.

The allocation was necessary not only so that the students work with the latest in computer and smartboard technology, but also because working with different computers from different time periods and with computers have different programs installed on them did not allow students in a single class to be on the same page, Vacca added.

“On behalf of the P.S. 72 family and staff, we want to thank you for helping to educate our future,” Colon said to Vacca.

Students thanked Vacca for the new technology. They also created a multi-media presentation for Vacca celebrating his role in improving education at P.S. 72. The presentation was also turned into a scrapbook, which Vacca could keep, so that he can have both a digital and hard copy of the presentation which served as a tribute to his hard work.