When a local educational software distributor closes its doors, who does she call? Humboldt Unified School District, that's who.
HUSD Information Technology director Dwayne Morris said Denise Rogers, owner of Academics Distributing, Inc., invited him out to her business in Dewey to see if the district could use any of the software packages.
It was several days before Morris got there, and in the meantime, he said two other districts had made their selections. Rogers told him to take what he wanted from what was left.
"They said they didn't know what to do with the rest. I took it all," he said. "Anything we don't use, we'll talk with Mayer and the other school district to see if they're interested."
Rogers' company is a distributor of educational software. She said vendors of the preschool through twelfth-grade educational programs would not take the software back after a certain length of time, and the inventory items were no longer of use to the company. She knew they were something worthwhile for students.
"After a certain amount of time, they lose value - as far as the business and financial aspect - but not from the good of the product," Rogers said.
She had directly contacted two HUSD school sites, and school personnel told her to speak with the computer techs at the district office. In the meantime, she also posted the software on the Craigslist Website.
Cheri Baumgartner, who works in the Mayer Unified School District Special Services Office, found the listing on Craigslist and contacted Rogers about a used copier - something Rogers didn't have - and learned about the software programs.
Accompanied by Jesse Bais, MUSD Information Technology director, Baumgartner selected programs that include high school trigonometry, science, math and geography for all different grade levels. In addition, they also accepted keyboards and cables.
Rogers said she was delighted to see Bais and Baumgartner recognize the value the software had for students.
"They knew it was something they could use, and that it would help the kids. It worked out perfectly for them," Rogers said.
"It was kind of cute the way they were trying not to be greedy. They took quite a bit and left quite a bit as well. They were so delighted and happy," she added.
Bais has yet to complete an inventory, but said, so far, he places the value of the software at more than $25,000.
Baumgartner said, gesturing toward a table overflowing with boxes and keyboards, "I was looking for a copier and we wound up with this. It was like Christmas!"
At HUSD, Morris said he is working on an inventory, but he thinks most of the software can be used at the elementary level. He will distribute the software programs district wide.
"HUSD has a heartfelt thanks for them in considering us. Knowing the economic conditions of the state and how expensive these are, we really appreciate them letting us come by and take the software," he said.
