TECH: AV/TV - FOCUS box vs Hitachi monitor?

[Chaney-Hulten <deweyx2@snet.net>]

Greetings and would you share your thought - TIA

BACKGROUND:  This is my first year in this position.
-In my previous school, someone else handled AV and I have very
little background in AV.
-I am in the process of preparing my budget for next school year.
-As the result of the most recent accreditation visit, the LMC has
been funded with a fairly nice chunck of money to replace and upgrade AV
equipment.
-This is the second year of a 3 year proposal.
-Last year my predecessor purchased new VCR/TV combos, overheads, 2
camcorders, 2 tape/CD players, cassette recorders for the FL
teachers.
-The plan seems to have been to eventually have TV monitors mounted   in
most classrooms.  These would be wired to access VCR and cable.

QUERY:  My original thought was to continue this plan, purchsing more TV
monitors and mounts, and beginning the purchase of FOCUS boxes, so that
the monitors could also be used with the computers that are scheduled
for each classroom. We've gotten the TV's for $300 ea and the FOCUS
boxes also $300 ea.

    The technology person (not me) suggested that I by-pass the FOCUS
boxes and look into Hitachi 27" monitors that will be computer output
and also TV/VCR output.  These run about $900.00 each.  He says that the
purchase of these is more forward looking and that they produce a higher
resolution (they're also bigger) so they would better meet the needs.

So now my thought is to not purchase TV monitors this year but to buy
one of these monitors for each department to try (i.e. 7 if we include
the LMC)

I would then spend the rest of my money setting up a technology
classroom in the LMC that would model use of computer assisted lessons
(with a scanner, overhead camera, computer for projecting PowerPoint,
etc., Quiktake type camera, camcorder).

I'm looking for your experience to help me develop a thoughtful
philosophy.  All opinions welcomed and appreciated.

Many thanks

Julie Hulten, Library Media Specialist (still learning the media part
;-))
Mark T. Sheehan H.S.
142 Hope Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
deweyx2@snet.net

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