Computer Class Keeps Town Wired

Jack R. Douglas’ ears redden when he talks about being a computer whiz.

“I guess I am, yeah,” he says with chagrin. He’s 15, a Mullan High sophomore and apparently wants to be known at school for more than his talent with computers.

But everyone knows he’s Mullan City Hall’s computer answer man.

Jack helped build and install City Hall’s newest computer last month. He linked it to another computer in the office.

“They call me for all their problems,” he says. He’s not complaining. “I’ve had to go down there a couple of times.”

Jack wants to study computer science or engineering after he graduates. His teacher, Don Kotschevar, is preparing him well and building Jack a nest egg for college.

Don runs a computer class/business. His students build computers from scratch. They repair and program them. They explain them to technophobes.

“I love having Jack come down,” says city Clerk Barbara Baillie. “Whenever we call, either Jack or his supervisor’s here right away.”

The City Council was surprised to open a bid from Don’s class for its new computer. It was the lowest bid, which is no surprise to Don.

“We can put a complete computer together for $999,” he says. “That’s with a keyboard, mouse, monitor and modem.”

Hard to beat. If the council had any reservations about hiring students for the job, other customers in town could vouch for the kids’ expertise. Since the business end of the program began in 1996, the class has built and sold a dozen computers.

Mullan had a lab full of obsolete computers until the state coughed up money for technology four years ago.

The school district decided to build a local computer network that would connect anyone in Mullan with a computer to the school’s information network.

The first $50,000 bought a new computer lab, upgrades for all the old computers and wiring for more. Don scrambled that first year trying to keep up with all the problems.

“People didn’t know what they were doing,” he says. “They kept crashing.”

He had taught industrial technology for six years, including computer-aided drafting. But he was no computer technician. So he began tearing machines apart and reading books until he knew computers inside and out.

Problems were so numerous at school that Don needed help. He proposed a computer class to help him manage the network. Seven boys registered.

“It’s not like we don’t give girls the chance,” says senior Steve Greenfield, 17. “None want to do it.”

The boys did the job so well that they ran out of work.

Mike Alexander, the district’s school-to-work coordinator, suggested the class become a school-based business. The school-to-work program prepares kids for the working world, but it can’t compete with local businesses.

Former school board trustee Fred Manthey owns the one computer business in town. He had no problem with Mike’s proposal. His company had more work than he could handle.

Don bought computer parts from Fred. Fred referred customers to Don’s class for repairs, upgrades and software installation.

Building computers was so easy that Don taught his class how. They found plenty of customers in their own tiny town. Last year, they netted $1,500 from computer sales and maintenance.

This year, they’ve already earned $800. The money goes toward new parts and scholarships for students in the class.

Senior Ken Chambers, 17, says his boss at Rick’s Automotive wants to train him for the office because Ken knows computers.

“It’s great knowing how to fix them. Computers are in everything,” he says. He liked Don’s class so much last year that he’s taking it again and in charge of promoting the business this year.

Joe Hayes, 17, handles the class’s inventory.

“I never thought I’d be so interested in computers,” he says.

Neither boy is considering a future in computers. But both are heading to college with money they helped the class raise.

Don applied for a grant last year to start a similar program at Clark Fork High. His students wanted to train their Bonner County counterparts, but the grant didn’t make the short list.

“I want to work with other schools,” Jack says. “Not for free, of course. The money is important - and the jobs’ll look good on applications.

“It’s good this is a business instead of a class. It makes us a little more responsible.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo