News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters Middle/High School students are getting down to business -- literally.
Starting with the new semester this week, a private student-run company called "Outlawnet" will begin offering Internet service -- access to the international electronic computer network -- to residents and businesses in Sisters, Black Butte and Camp Sherman.
Sisters Middle/High School will provide space for the operation of the business and all the computers in the school computer network will be provided with high-speed access to the Internet.
According to Renner, the total cost for the first year of operation, including the installation of equipment and phone lines will be $52,000. A local businessman lent the company $50,000 to help cover those costs.
Renner said that the company will become self-sustaining. In the long term, Renner said, the company's profits will be used to endow other projects in the school district such as upgrades of computer hardware and software.
The actual operation of the business will be conducted by a class of 22 students selected by a panel of four teachers. The students bring a variety of skills to the project, ranging from computer knowledge to artistic ability, accounting savvy and marketing skills.
The students will solicit Internet subscriptions, manage customer accounts, provide customer services such as installing software and hardware, and develop "web pages" -- electronic locations in the computer world of the Internet -- for customers.
Renner said "Outlawnet" will concentrate at first on getting subscriptions from students, which will be provided at a substantially discounted rate. Outlawnet will provide in-home installation for those subscribers starting in March.
Renner said the business should be ready to take on commercial accounts by April.
Outlawnet will use the same pricing structure as other commercial vendors of Internet services and will use the same kind of equipment to monitor accounts.
Renner acknowledged that web-page development may be slower than that provided by other services because Outlawnet is a training environment as well as a service provider. Outlawnet will provide Internet access at the highest rate of speed available anywhere in Central Oregon, as fast as any of the current commercial vendors.
But, Renner noted, the creative input of a large number of students might prove a bonus for customers.
"You'll have kids with a lot of different ideas and there'll be a lot of people working on it, so you might get a superior product," Renner said.
The students will be tightly supervised to ensure high standards, Renner said. Jim Reiss will teach the class and a management team of Renner, Reiss, Sue Beck, Lora Nordquist and Principal Dennis Dempsey will oversee the company.
The company will experience regular turnover as seniors graduate, but Renner noted that students will have the option of repeating the class each semester, which will help provide continuity.
Renner emphasized that the class, while providing exciting opportunities for students, will not be easy.
"It's very demanding," Renner said, "partly because any start-up venture is more difficult than one that's already in process and partly because they're going to actually deal with real world responsibilities."
Giving students real world responsibilities and experiences is a key component of current educational philosophy, which emphasizes preparing students for the work world of the 21st century.
"This is a perfect example of that kind of thing," Renner said. "This is going to provide real world experience for these kids."
And in the real world, companies don't close down for summer vacation.
Outlawnet will operate year-round, with students being paid for their billable time outside of class time. The students will operate the business during the summer months while the training component of the company is suspended.
Outlawnet training was to begin this week. Renner said that the company would begin advertising as soon as it is ready to accept commercial accounts.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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