By Kathryn Fletcher

Special to the Bulletin

ATLANTA--Over the past two years St. Pius X High School has been implementing what one might call the greatest sign of its millennium preparation--a new technology system. Adding to its most visible sign of progress, the construction of a new building equipped with math classrooms, computer labs and a gymnasium, the school's staff has been working behind the scenes to network the entire facility with Internet capabilities.

Jason Podhorez joined the St. Pius staff in the summer of 1998 as director of technology and computers. A computer science major that installed the previous networks at St. Pius, Podhorez was aware of what the school had and what it needed to make the revamping of technology successful.

"It was a great challenge getting the hardware and software that was purchased over the years to work together," Podhorez said. The endeavor also required deciding how to fairly distribute new hardware and software throughout the school.

Extensive research in 1998 as to the needs of St. Pius students, faculty and parents revealed that the small divided networks, older computers and limited internet access fell short of educational goals. What the school needed was an expert, like Podhorez, to design and oversee the operation of upgrading the computer network throughout the school.

Plans to change the face of St. Pius' technology were easier said than done, according to Podhorez. The missing infrastructure in the new math classrooms and science labs had to be laid. Podhorez then consulted surveys conducted the previous year on faculty and student computer needs and looked at other schools' computer systems. This research gave him the groundwork for determining the technology needed. Computer upgrades and extensive computer purchases were necessary, according to Podhorez, and with raffle proceeds, alumni donations and the generous support of IBM's matching grant program, these purchases were realized.

According to Podhorez, this new technology system is a dream come true, allowing students the ability to jump-start their college search through e-mail communication and to do research for school projects at quality Internet sites. It also allows teachers to use alternative teaching methods on CD-ROM and to communicate their concerns to parents via e-mail.

Many students and faculty are singing the praises of Podhorez and his design for computer technology at St. Pius. Journalism faculty, Rachel Braham and Elizabeth Ross, have realized there can be much less stress and paperwork when you have the perks of a reliable computer system and a computer expert at your fingertips.

"We can call on (Podhorez) any time," Ross said.

Senior Elizabeth Lane has found the system useful in her position as editor of the St. Pius student newspaper.

"Even when I was out sick I could e-mail my column," she said. The journalism department has also benefited from the technology upgrade with eight new computers to join their other three IBMs.

"I think we have as much as we need for the level we are," said senior Katie Bush, who could not be happier with the transformation of computer life at St. Pius.

According to Podhorez, students take a mandatory introduction to computer class. Teachers can take their classes to an available computer lab for research purposes or to use CD-ROM educational programs. Students have access to Advanced Software Integration classes where they can learn, among other things, how to create PowerPoint presentations. Science classrooms are also equipped with interactive sensors that allow students to directly input information into computers during their experiments.

Even with the success of the existing computer system, Podhorez hopes to add to the school's capabilities. He plans to focus on foreign language labs, e-mail addresses for students and obtaining more computers.

"Of course the face of technology is forever changing and our job is never done," remarked Podhorez, who is a steady fixture at the school and is always ready to hear the needs and suggestions of faculty, staff and students.

Podhorez said he has enjoyed working in the academic environment instead of the corporate world where there are "seasoned computer users."

"In the academic environment you come in contact with people who may have never touched a computer before."

He experiences the joy of seeing these people grow to become competent computer users.

With this in mind, St. Pius hopes to ensure that students will be not only computer literate during their high school days, but also ready for the challenges and fast pace environment of their future workplace in the new millennium.