Gift aids Maine's laptop program

By GLENN ADAMS, Associated Press

©Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

E-mail this story to a friend

AUGUSTA - Its attention drawn by Maine's middle-school laptop program, a Texas company said Thursday it's giving Maine schools software valued at $400 million to help the state implement its pioneering effort.

EDS will also make software available to high schools and the Maine Technical College and state university systems so students using it will be better trained to work for precision manufacturers.

Gov. Angus King said that to his knowledge, the gift, with a commercial value of $400 million, is the largest ever made to the state of Maine.

"It's somewhat breathtaking to be announcing a gift of this magnitude," added King, whose effort to make laptop computers available to every seventh- and eighth-grader attracted sharp criticism within the state even as it drew interest nationally and from other countries.

The governor hailed the donation as one that "gives us a fighting change to protect our manufacturing base."

Hulas King of EDS, who announced the gift at a news conference with the governor, said it was also the largest gift the Plano, Texas, company provided for educational purposes.

The EDS official said his company's attention was drawn to Maine largely by the laptop program Maine's governor has championed since he proposed it three years ago. The initiative came into full swing this year when computers started appearing in middle schools throughout the state.

EDS was also attracted by Maine students' good performance in tests that measure academic achievement, said EDS' King. He also demonstrated the software, which is used by 24,000 manufacturers, including 400 in Maine.

The cutting-edge software has applications in manufacturing, aerospace, medical technology and other fields.

Many of Maine's resource-based industries have given way to businesses that rely on advanced training, such as semiconductors and computer-aided boat building. Meanwhile, the state has taken steps to better prepare Maine students to embrace technology.

Wick Johnson of Kennebec Tool & Die Co. Inc. in Augusta, said one of the biggest challenges for precision manufacturing industries such as his is "keeping up with the intellectual capital."

EDS' gift "really does open up the world, and a whole new world, to the students of Maine," Johnson said.

To top of page