HARRISVILLE — It's time for another computer upgrade in the Slippery Rock School District, according to the technology director.

If the school board chooses to move forward with the director's recommendations, money for the changes will come from a state grant and district capital reserves. The recommendations came during a board meeting Monday at Har Mer Elementary School.

Board members are expected to vote Feb. 27 on these upgrades:

$29,749 for new servers to handle the computers at Slippery Rock high and middle schools. The servers there are four to five years old and slow down many of the computer programs.

$29,524 for 50 computers to replace aging computers in a middle school lab and at teacher work stations.

$8,345 for 50 computer desks for teachers

The servers will be changed in the summer, if the board approves the purchase, said Dave Youngdahl, technology director. They should last the district between six and seven years, he predicted.

The 50 computers on the list are some of 147 that need replaced throughout the district, Youngdahl said. He said this purchase, if approved, would be the first step in a longer process that would include his next recommendations.

Assistant superintendent Kathy Nogay compared the server to the trunk of a tree, with all the computer programs and hardware serving as branches and leaves. In this case, the trunk needs to be replaced so everything can function effectively, she said.

The board also heard from Joe Raykie, Slippery Rock Middle School principal, on the middle school accelerated program. Raykie, teachers, and other administrators have developed new criteria for the program including Iowa test scores, benchmark test scores and teacher reviews.

Board members were concerned that unfair criteria was being used prior to this year for admittance by students into the program. Tom Reiber, board member, said the changes should satisfy the concerns of the board.

Board members saw the proposed 2006-07 school calendar, which will be posted on the district Web site and sent home with students so the board can get input before voting on it on Feb. 27. The calendar lists a starting date of Aug. 30 and an end date of June 8.