[K12OSN] LTSP and K12LTSP in British Columbia

[Robert Arkiletian]

On 11/6/06, Jim Christiansen <christiansen_j at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I've been absent from the list for a couple of months- just lurking since
> getting K12LTSP5 up on a number of boxes, and I want to bring everyone up
> to
> date.  My school, Prince Charles Secondary, in Creston, is now running 3
> K12LTSP servers with a total of about 120 thin clients.  I deliver
> high-end
> Cad and several other apps through crossover- everything else FOSS.
>
> A week or so ago my principal brought in a sub teacher for me and I went
> to
> visit Kamloops where EVERY elementary and middle school runs ltsp and high
> schools, I understand, have moved to ltsp or are moving over soon.  I
> visited the IT Manager and head Tech there for several hours and was
> amazed
> how they ran each school.



Hi Jim,
I am from Vancouver BC. Glad to hear you are in Creston BC. I also know
about Kamloops. They are the model district which we should all be
following. Here is there Linux site
http://www.sd73.bc.ca/district-operations.php/page/linux-in-education/



Each school server runs linux with ltsp buried into a vserver.  All higher
> functions run in the host- ltsp on the vserver.  Their mail, fax, backups
> ... everything is linux.  Several school homepage use Moodle with other
> schools moving their old home pages to a customized moodle.  All schools
> use
> FreeNX for logons from home- so do I now!
>
> I'm still the only school in our district running K12LTSP.  Last year,



As am I. There is one other for Adult Ed. However, many of the private
schools around Vancouver use Linux.


sitting on the Tech Committee, in was told that Prince Charles Secondary
> would be allowed to remain linux.  Later I was told that we were being
> moved
> to windows...  standardization...  So much for committee decision.  Our
> school is the only school to have fully functional computers
> EveryDay.  Our
> number of computers is still growing in our school WITHOUT a
> budget...  Our
> technician has said that there is no way our school would run as well as
> it
> dows it we used windows.  We can't switch over to windows without


Would your principal allow you to keep the labs?


$100,000.00.  A principal from nearby came to visit our school on two
> occations last May to see how well our system worked.  He arranged for me
> to
> purchase a server for K12LTSP and I scoped out 25 HPt5515 clients for 120
> a
> piece- total price of under $4000.00.   The lead teach found out- went to
> the Superintendent -did I say our school district is millions in debt??
> and
> stopped the linux lab from happening.  THEN turned around and spent
> $30,000.00 on a windows lab instead...  Oh well- end rant.



I am curious if the lead tech or any of the lower techs have Linux/Unix
skills?


As we are still in debt Prince Charles Secondary won't move to windows.  We
> offer so much with our system now it would take an army of technicians
> months to make the same things happen in windows and that is accordinbg to
> my local technician.


Many have experienced similar situations. You are not alone. Don't give up.
If you like send me your phone number privately and I'll call you. Maybe we
can start an alliance for FOSS in Education in BC. If we can site X many
teachers or schools using it in BC, then our voice will be stronger.

Thanks everyone for an awesome system.   Try out FreeNX!
>
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-- 
Robert Arkiletian
Eric Hamber Secondary, Vancouver, Canada
Fl_TeacherTool http://www3.telus.net/public/robark/Fl_TeacherTool/
C++ GUI tutorial http://www3.telus.net/public/robark/
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