CDI Computer Dealers Helps Virginia School District

 MARKHAM, Ontario, Aug 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Louisa County Public Schools in Mineral, Virginia has radically expanded its computer purchasing power over the past two years, based on a growing relationship with CDI Computer Dealers, Inc. (CDI), one of the largest independent re-marketers of IT equipment in North America.

 Since 2006, the school district has acquired more than 300 systems from CDI.

 From its initial purchase of PCs to the replacement of four large computer labs earlier this year, Louisa County has achieved several efficiencies resulting from its adoption of refurbished CDI equipment. In addition to achieving a 2:1 ratio of students to PCs, CDI helped the district save $65,000 on the infrastructure and equipment costs of the new computer labs. Over the same time period, Louisa County has saved $165,000 on PC acquisition costs.

 "Overall, working with CDI has been a very positive experience for us," said Bruno Sestito, director of Technology for the Louisa County Public Schools. "The equipment is more than adequate for what our students and teachers are doing. We got everything we needed for the labs - Dell's with good processors, 40-gig drives, DVDs, optical mice, and a USB keyboard - at a cost of less than $50,000." Comparatively, Sestito estimates the price of a new system would have been around $115,000.

 The mixed results from a pilot program focusing on rebuilding the district's outdated computers internally led to Sestito's contacting CDI. Upon learning that the company could deliver a comparative desktop computer at a cost of $300, including a three-year warranty, his interest was piqued.

 The savings realized from the recent computer lab implementation have enabled Sestito's team to move forward with the installation of a wireless environment that will be completed within the next two years. "By buying from CDI, I was able to allocate $65,000 for the wireless project," reported Sestito. "And I'm still able to set aside resources to purchase three more labs of CDI equipment for our elementary schools." Previously, the students in this district rarely used computers and were not learning the necessary technology skills in order to be competitive. This was due in large to the lack of computing resources available.

 "Increasing our students' access to this equipment is such an asset," said JoAnn Marshall, Louisa County's instructional technology resource teacher. "We were finally able to set up a second computer lab to use with small groups. Now, our talented and gifted, Title 1, and special-education students have a place to do computing." Before the district purchased the refurbished PCs, these three groups of students used computers only if their class went to a lab. "It was very limited, as we had only one lab for 700 students," continued Marshall. "Now the students do extra projects and their overall interest level is much higher." Judy Ann B. Huff, the gifted and science resource teacher at Trevilians Elementary School, echoes her colleague's sentiments. Her students use the computers for everything from doing Internet research to creating brochures to honing their math skills online.

 A 16-year teaching veteran, Huff knows that technology is key to keeping kids engaged: "They'd much rather create a brochure in Publisher or do a PowerPoint presentation instead of write a report. What the computers allow them to do makes the work so much more meaningful and memorable." In addition to the financial savings realized from CDI, the school district also appreciates the company's commitment to service. "If something stops working, I call our salesperson and he immediately replaces the part or the entire computer," added Marshall. Previously, she worked with other technology companies and experienced difficulty in securing replacement parts.

 "We will keep using CDI as long as they continue to take care of our needs," concluded Sestito.

 "It's gratifying to support school districts such as Louisa County in their endeavors to offer students enhanced access to the latest technology advances," said Saar Pikar, general manager at CDI. "We look forward to continuing this relationship by maintaining the same high levels of customer service excellence that are a hallmark of CDI's culture."