Nov. 23, 2001 – Thanks to a system upgrade at the Westin Resort, four St. John schools have upgraded their computer capabilities, too. The resort donated four Dell computers each with Windows 95 to the Guy Benjamin, Julius E. Sprauve School, Pine Peace and Coral Bay schools.
"We felt that instead of selling them, it was worth while to give something back to the community," hotel operations director Graham Davis said. The Westin also bought one new printer for each school.
Blanche Bellow, principal at Guy Benjamin, said that three of the four computers added to her school's inventory will help the students with their technology exercises. The other one will be shared by the school nurse and counselor.
At Sprauve School, Principal Shirley Joseph said the computers will be used in the Beacon School adult education program. The computer class has been operating with two students to a machine, but now people will not have to share.
Scott Crawford, co-administrator at The Coral Bay School, said that since the school already has 10 computers in its computer lab, the donated computers will go into the classrooms for student use.
Pine Peace School's administrator, Beth Knight, said the school is placing two of its donated computers in the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes, which did not previously have computers. The other two will go into classrooms, doubling the number in each room from one to two. "It's a nice gesture," she said of the donation.
