400 miles northwest of Manhattan, outside of Buffalo is the city of Sanborn, NY.  In Sanborn, a wide scale purchasing and distribution of netbook to students is being planned.  The goal is to equip 275 5th graders with netbooks to allow them to continue learning well after the school day has ended.

The netbooks will be made part of a private network only available to students and faculty.  This will limit the netbooks ability to surf online and subject the students to inappropriate content as well as minimize any chances of the netbooks getting virus from improper downloads.  The netbooks would also be restricted from being contacted by people outside of the network.  This would ensure that there are no concerns about predators using the computers to contact students.

While the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District will be purchasing the netbooks, parents will be held responsible.  The actual model of netbooks being chosen hasn’t been finalized but the netbooks will cost between $200 and $400.

[Source: Buffalo News]

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