Talking Tech: Guru keeps SHS running smoothly

Saratoga High’s technology has not always been the way students and teachers know it today. Ten years ago, SHS had a spotty e-mail system, only some teachers had computers in their classrooms and there was no wireless Internet. This is why the school hired Julie Grenier in 2001. Her mission: Bring the school’s technology to the 21st century.

Grenier, the school’s IT manager, helped bring Saratoga High into the modern world and continues to push the school’s technology forward.

Grenier takes care of all of the computer systems on campus, including laptop and desktop support, network infrastructure, the network and even the telephone system.

According to Grenier, all teachers have at least one computer in their classroom today. Another feature the school lacked was wireless Internet. Students had to bring an Ethernet (Internet) cable to school and plug their computers into one of the blue ports that are still visible in the walls of some classrooms.

“There were a lot of problems with [the technology in the past], even though there wasn’t a lot of technology,” said Grenier.

On an average day, Grenier easily helps about 15 teachers and students, fixing anything that could possibly be wrong with their computers, from printers to hard drive failures. Grenier also monitors the school’s network and wireless throughout the day.

However, Grenier doesn’t do all of the work by herself. She also has, Matt Lipford, her assistant, who started working at SHS this year, and student interns, or student ITs, who help her during their free periods. One of these student ITs is senior Robert Belpasso.

As a student IT, Belpasso fixes the simple computer problems that teachers may have, such as locating missing files, or replacing toner in printers.

“[Being a student IT] is really fun,” said Belpasso. “It’s just a great place to hang out, and Mrs. Grenier is really cool.”

Like in every job, there are busy days and calm days. On calm days, Belpasso usually has time to work on homework and study for tests. However, on a particularly busy and stressful day, he may spend all day fixing a computer, or running around campus helping teachers if they have a problem.
When the school’s Internet stops working completely, it sends everyone into a frenzy.

“[When the Internet stops working it gets] pretty stressful, because you have about 100 teachers calling you, letting you know their Internet is down. At that point it’s working as quickly as possible without interrupting classes,” said Grenier.