Withrow High School's efforts to give every student 24-hour computer access received a boost Thursday when the Pfizer Foundation donated $10,000 to the school.

        The money will be used to lease 60 laptops students can use at school and at home, science teacher Alberta Hemsley said.

        While the school already has two classes equipped with laptops that stay at school, teachers find that arrangement doesn't quite work.

        “Each student tries to personalize the computers,” Ms. Hemsley said. “We find we need one computer for one kid.”

        Withrow is the first public school in Greater Cincinnati to use the IBM ThinkPad program. In January, the school received 86 new IBM ThinkPad laptop computers for teachers.

        Teachers are now learning the laptops and taking training classes online and at Cincinnati Country Day School, where laptop computers are already integrated into the curriculum.

        A partnership between the two schools will have students working together on projects through video conferencing, e-mail and other use of the technology.

        “All of the kids have different kinds of expertise,” said Joe Hofmeister, director of technology at Cincinnati Country Day. “We don't want to be the private suburban school that comes to take care of the poor public school. They can teach us.”

        Pfizer decided to contribute to Withrow's efforts after contacting U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park.

        Pfizer's Justin McCarthy presented an enlarged copy of the check to sophomore Jasmine Buchannon.

        “I think this is a great idea,” Jasmine said. “Having the computers through school will advance students' knowledge. I don't even know how to get onto the Internet. I have a computer at home and I don't even use it.”

        Mr. Portman said he's been impressed at Withrow's push to become a technology-centered school. He directed his comments at Ms. Hemsley's students during Thursday's news conference.

        “If you have that (technology) skill going into the workplace you'll have an edge,” Mr. Portman said.

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