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Take the Severn School in Severna Park, Md. The preparatory school's SeverNet network extends far beyond the reaches of the computer lab and classroom. Pupils from sixth to 12th grade can use computers on every part of the campus--and at home. Various applications allow students to access school resources and communicate with teachers wherever they are over an intranet. And, home links give parents the means to stay more directly involved with their children's teachers and monitor their kids' progress. "We put parents back into the equation," says Rick Bauer, Severn's technology evangelist. "They have their own e-mail accounts and can see examples of what their kids are doing before report-card time."

According to Bauer, Procom Technology's CD-Force Tower is one example of how SeverNet extends a child's opportunities to learn. It lets students access periodicals and other library materials from wherever they can make the connection. Thanks to this "114-drive monster," Bauer says, the school library is essentially open 24 hours a day. Universal Microfilm's ProQuest supplies synopses of periodicals, which can be searched over the intranet. Another example is GlobalLink's Talk To Me software, which brings all the benefits of a language lab directly to each desktop--and eliminates fumbling with cumbersome audiotapes--over a 100BASE-T Ethernet connection.

With sensitive data such as student statistics on the network, security is a huge concern for Severn. Raptor Systems' Eagle Firewall manages the SMTP and telnet traffic, while Windows NT-native security isolates mission-critical applications through passwords, Bauer says.

Technology even plays a part in Severn's extracurricular activities. The school football team methodically reviews its plays and those of opponents through the LRS Athlete Program. "There's no need for the coach to stand in front of a blackboard and map out plays; it's all done at each desktop," Bauer says. He also says that the student newspaper is one of the first school publications in the state to be available on film, paper and the Web.

Severn makes sure no student is left behind technologically because of financial hardship. The school provides all financially disadvantaged children and scholarship recipients with computers so they can log in from home, Bauer says. To learn more about SeverNet and the school, visit www.severnschool.com.