The students and staff began learning about the internet and networking on their own using the resources at hand. Initially a couple of dial-up lines connected vo-tech to gateways like VaPen and later to a local ISP. Students and staff were allowed access to the modem driven system during their free time.

When the Lee County School System developed a wide area network with an internet gateway the chance to advance was at hand. But, with recent cuts in educational funding and a heavy portion of those cuts coming from vocational education, vo-tech was in no position to call in consultants or buy equipment.

Having no money does not always make you poor. Vo-tech is rich, with shared expertise in data processing, marketing, electronics, fabrication, and repair. Drawing on fortitude and self-dependent qualities that are hallmarks of vocational training, a techno-savvy group emerged.

If all this scattered technical ability could be harnessed!! Students helped teachers and teachers helped students. Soon there was a semi-organized body of know-how.

When trades people don't have, and can't buy, what they need they don't usually panic or go to the bank. The normal approach is "we'll figure out how it works and make one". They started to look around for parts and pieces. They found software available free to schools. They took advantage of seminars and classes. And most of all, they took advantage of being able to help each other. A strong group emerged. No wonder vo-tech has more than it's share of winners in annual competitions. While much of the school system cried for money and help and complained that someone had more than they did, vo-tech pressed on. Trades people are accustomed to not being on the stage.

"Now we know how but still have no money for equipment?" came the cries. Close scrutiny of the school's budget, over a two year period, allowed the purchase of a few workstations to distribute and share throughout the complex. Still there was no server. A library grant had provided workstations and servers for every other school in the system. Having no formal library vo-tech, didn't qualify.

And there it was!! Right in the middle of the pile and under a stack of old keyboards with missing keys and next to a broken copier was the answer. The pile was a shipment of old business equipment discarded by MCI and donated to the Lee County School System for salvage.

The �it' was an IBM 195 PS/2 Server.

With broken and missing parts, no operating manual or setup software, and the missing parts long out of production it would not have been much of a find to some. But, to a trades person the missing parts and obsolescence only make it more valuable. For here he can show what he knows. And all that trades people have to sell is what they know.

Closer inspection revealed a circa 1990 dual 486-50 mainboard with enough RAM to provide basic functionality. Nothin' to it now. It's about to happen: