This is a Service
to help local residents improve their local school systems. Surprisingly
the public schools have a desperate shortage of computers. The oldest
computer equipment in the entire county can be found today at use in our
public schools.
STARS has had a number of successes with re-using old
equipment, as some of our current projects indicate. This service will
provide a steady source of old equipment for our students to use in
building, rebuilding and learning the technologies, while providing a
source of new equipment to our local schools.
Key
Benefits
Citizens can donate unwanted
equipment for a Federal Income Tax deduction
Students can continue to
learn how different hardware components connect and operate. They
have also been pressed to find useful applications which these old
"unusable" systems can operate suitably for younger children.
More excess inventory will
be put to use in our public schools enhancing the development of the
student and faculty learning abilities.
Students can be awarded
equipment, &/or obtain the use of computer equipment. This will
to help develop new projects, allow then to learn and teach
instructional software, and be allow them to develop their own
software and technologies.
Capabilities
This is an entirely new function and service of our
organization. During the summer of 1997 ERCCD needed to clear some of the
older equipment they were unable to use. Lewis Elementary provided the
opportunities to put this equipment to use. The Florida State guidelines
required the transfer of equipment ownership before any equipment could
leave the USF Campus. STARS' tax exempt status provided the vehicle for
meeting these necessary requirements allowing the students to take the
opportunities presented to them.
Capability 1
501(c)3 IRS Tax Exemption- This status was attained
by the founding students, involved USF and Tampa Community
Professionals. They dedicated several years to meet all the
requirements, but the current student and faculty membership have not
used it excessively. It provides a method to utilize, operate and
transfer resources between public entities. Just as being a student at
USF, provides you "membership" to the recreation center, library and
other resources and facilities on Campus.
The STARS Tax exemption allows for the use of other public,
governmental and educational resources. As a student can borrow a book,
in the same way STARS can use a truck, or park, or building. In 1986 USF
students used the STARS exemption to use Jones Intercable's Public
Broadcasting equipment to video tape the ARCE Show, several dance
performances and even tried out a USF News program. Subsequent years
students received public grants and had other benefits.
Capability 2
Donated Computers- The increased access to donated
equipment will allow us to develop more "summer shop" programs, build
more elaborate and interesting computer systems and networks, as well as
test and develop our own interests. During the 96-97 school year a 5th
and 6th grader used some excess computers to learn and then teach how to
operate some children's programs.
Having good equipment at our public schools is only half the
problem. Faculty have to learn the software before they can use it
effectively. Providing Faculty access to computers is a start, giving
teachers classes to learn the software is also just a start, but finding
the time???
When a STARS computer is used, the publicly provided software is
already all setup. Students can then learn and test the programs at home
on their own time. This proved a great value to Mrs. Van De Boe's first
grade class. When the 5th grade A-Student, Tara Murphy, came to her
class a few hours a week to teach and help student learn to spell and
write on the computers.
Capability 3
Increased Knowledge- As a greater number of
citizens, businesses and students learn of the operations of STARS the
capability we have to help others to learn greatly increases. Not only
can new students develop an understanding of computer components and
configuration procedures, but they also can test new technologies,
operation systems and software.
Reference
Accounts
Several Community organizations have already contributed
to STARS. Any equipment, resources or service may be donated
for a tax deduction of the appraised retail values.
Reference 1
The Hillsborough County School Board
Reference 2
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
Information presented on or through STARS is provided for
educational and discussion purposes only. STARS makes no guarantee,
implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy or completeness of any
information provided on or through this service.
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