In this article, reporter Tim Gallagher reports:

Kale Nelson sprang from his desk inside the Elk Point-Jefferson High School computer center Wednesday and walked quietly past two dozen teachers hard at work. A Red Hot Chilli Peppers tune from his iPod danced in his head.

I pointed down at his bright green high-top sneakers and asked, "Chuck Taylors?"

"Yup," he said. "Old school."

That had to be the only "old school" reference Wednesday at Elk Point–Jefferson, one of 21 South Dakota high schools awarding a laptop computer to each student this fall.

"These laptops are the students´ to keep 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Jerry Klumper, technology director at EP–J.

The state paid $330 toward the purchase of each Gateway M285E tablet. The state also paid for the training and tech support to handle 260 of these computers. The local school district will pay about $375,000 over three years to fund the balance of the program, said Klumper.

Do students need ´em?

"This is the way a majority of students prefer to learn," said Klumper. "An electronic textbook excites students. And that's who this program is for."

People like Nelson, the boy in the bright green sneakers. A computer guru of sorts around here, Nelson serves as Klumper's technology assistant this summer. He´ll help get the school ready for the transition from paper to wireless. He´ll also work three of seven periods per day this fall assisting teachers who might not be accustomed to grading papers and checking assignments electronically.

The article reports on other enthusiastic assessments from students and faculty although it also points to negative comments and concerns by members of the community.

SOURCE: Sioux City Journal, Nothing ´old school´ about EP-J laptops .