Known as "the junkman" in Galt, Weaver was taught by local residents how to repair donated and surplus equipment from federal and state agencies, and he began collecting computer equipment for his school by prowling computer shows and used-equipment stores.
The former language-arts instructor first got involved with computers when the homework his students submitted each semester quickly filled up his file cabinets. So, Weaver decided to place student work on disk and educated himself about technology by attending Saturday classes in a computer guru's garage.
Though he isn't likely to meet up with Fred Sanford anytime soon -- his days of actually going to the "computer junkyard" are over -- Weaver is still a scrounger. That's because, at any given time, Weaver could get a phone call from a local or state agency with computer equipment up for donation. In return, he offers agencies a 24-hour turnaround on pickups of any size, just as he did with the roomful of chairs and desks donated by the state Department of Justice.
When a state agency decides to "salvage" computer equipment, other state agencies get the first opportunity to accept. If all state agencies decline, schools are next on the list. If schools decline -- unlikely, but it could happen -- county and local government agencies get a chance. However, teachers like Weaver, who has his name and needs on virtually every list that exists, usually don't let the process get that far.
For example, the state Department of Health Services donated 10 DOS-based 286 notebooks for students to use at home or if their home system crashes. A closet in another area of the school's library contains old printers and CPUs -- so old, in fact, that even Weaver plans to discard them this summer once inventory is taken.
However, that doesn't mean they won't be used. Tom Vasta, manager of the California Technology Assistance Project's regional educational technology center in Sacramento, said some teachers in the 10-county region are starting from scratch and would be willing to take anything they can get their hands on -- much the way Weaver started.
"The mentality of the world is to move forward with Bill Gates," said Weaver, "[but] do we need to pay for Windows 95?" Not necessarily, said the teacher, who is simply bringing the haves and the have-nots closer together, giving each student 160 hours per academic year on the computer.
In the process, Weaver saves the district a bundle of money -- by his estimate, about $40,000 in the past five years. Weaver, for example, combined a donated 14-inch monitor with a CPU purchased at a bulk rate. He then installed WordPerfect donated by nearby Rancho Seco, a deactivated nuclear power plant. The result was another computer for the classroom.
Pupil Power
In addition to the 15 computers in Weaver's room, there are six units in the adjacent library and another room full of computers for desktop publishing. Three classes of seventh-grade students each house 15 operational computers, and Weaver is in charge of making sure they all continue to function.
For this task, Weaver recruited a little help, including students whose knowledge of computers goes well beyond knowing where letters are located on the keyboard. In fact, a few of his students willingly give up lunch breaks and stay after school to make sure the computers function properly.
Eighth-grade student Quin Martin specializes in computer installation, troubleshooting and repair. Martin, who moved from the Bay Area community of San Lorenzo to Galt just before the start of the school year, hopes to design software as a profession. He is off to a good start: He recently put together an IBM 286 with a 61MB hard drive and Microsoft Works 3.0.
"I like doing it. It's what I'm good at," Martin said of volunteering time during lunch and after school. While most teens his age are active in sports or the band, Martin focuses on his future and enjoys electronic entertainment and assembling computer components.
Fellow eighth-grader Thomas Scott is equally adept in networking, installing and maintaining computers, and he is most familiar with DOS, Windows 95 and Windows NT platforms. Scott, whose father worked with Sony when the family lived in San Jose, said giving up his free time to help his peers is a matter of action instead of reaction. "If we don't monitor [the computers], we have to reconfigure them," Scott said. "That's a lot harder than sacrificing a few lunch periods."
Teen Teamwork
According to Weaver, the students' contributions go well beyond helping peers. Martin, Scott and two other students also work behind the scenes, so to speak. In addition to setting up the network in the library, the students installed e-mail in the administrative office for the principal, vice principal and three secretaries.
They even come to school during "in-service" days -- when other students are off, and the teachers get together for workshops and seminars. During the quiet time, they maintain and work on computers in the attendance office and the classrooms.
Weaver expects the students to put in about 100 volunteer hours during the 1997-98 academic year, with the ultimate goal of preventing the need for major maintenance. With Weaver in the mix, the students have found ways to save the district money, since repair technicians charge an estimated $125 per hour.
At every opportunity, Weaver finds a way to educate his "junkmen in training," although there have been times when the students become the teachers. In the students' minds, it's easier to teach others how to access the Internet rather than just do it for them, because that's one less thing they have to worry about down the road -- like this fall when they enter high school.
Not only will they leave behind trained students, but Galt High School has a shortage of skilled computer personnel, meaning students like Martin and Scott could end up getting paid to do the type of work they now willingly do for free.
Internet
Weaver's actions have helped push Galt's schools toward the 21st century. He "stirred the pot," generated interest and helped other schools bring technology to campus. Valley Oaks School, the largest of the district's four elementary schools, went from five computers in the library a few years ago to more than 120 computers on campus, including at least one in every classroom. That growth prompted the need for the Internet; not surprisingly, Weaver is coordinating that program as well.
Internet access for the local elementary, middle and high schools goes through a router in Weaver's room, meaning 350-400 people could be on the Internet at one time. There are times when the high activity slows down searches on the Internet, but Weaver isn't complaining.
Weaver takes his teaching a step further with the Internet. He's had students surf the Net for sonnets by Shakespeare and had them figure out the value of their parents' cars with the Kelly Blue Book Web site. One research lesson focused on searching for technology and Internet information in California Gov. Pete Wilson's State of the State Address.
The effort is paying off. Three years ago, Galt Joint Union School District officials, after watching Weaver put together his program using junkman tactics, gave the teacher a total of $75,000 to spend on technology for the district. That period ends this month; however, school and district administrators, recognizing Weaver's effort and the need for technology in the schools, are expected to place money back into his budget.
