Students who checked the Wi-Fi networks from their iPhones or iPod Touches last Wednesday might have noticed something different. On Wednesday, May 6, the Palo Alto Unified School District tested a wireless network titled “StudentWireless,” and for the first time, no password was needed to join it. Ecstatic students were soon disappointed when they discovered that the network was solely a test, with no internet connection. The test, however, has further implications.

“We’re [the PAUSD district board of technology] working on an upgrade of the wireless networks throughout the whole district,” said Marie Scigliano, director of educational technology for PAUSD. While Scigliano says that the upgraded networks are not there yet, she said, “We’re closer, and we’re testing.”

Currently, when one searches for Wi-Fi networks on the Paly campus PAUSDWPA and PAUSDGEN are both listed as networks, but are for staff members and laptop carts and are locked.

“I think they [PAUSD] are going to be able to roll it [the upgraded network] out and at least test it at a site in the district by next year,” librarian and Educational Technology Board member Rachel Kellerman said. “Hopefully that would be Paly.”

Scigliano said that a lot has to be done before this can happen.

“We have to make sure people have the right permissions and data storage,” Scigliano said.

Kellerman says that the most work has to be done on the policy-making part of the project.

“The technology would be there before the rest,” Kellerman said. “We have a responsibility to keep it [the network] safe and make sure everyone knows how to use it appropriately and what it’s for.”

Time usage does not seem to be one of Kellerman’s concerns.

“I’d guess 70-80 percent of kids’ time is used for good work,” Kellerman said. “Kids need to learn how to use their time well. Personally, I think this is a good opportunity for that.”

The switch would be appreciated by students, according to junior Marco Scola.

“It’d be cool because if gives you another option,” Scola said. “You wouldn’t be confined to the library if you wanted to edit a paper or check your email or the news.”

Kellerman also indicated that the addition would also help Paly guests who bring their own computers. Wi-Fi would be one password away, and would help to enhance any class presentations done by these individuals, according to Kellerman.

The switch to Wi-Fi would also help to take the load off of what Kellerman calls “the most used lab in the district,” located in the Paly library, which reaches maximum capacity almost every day.

However, Kellerman identified a problem that could arise if students were bringing their laptops to school.

“Students would have to be aware of their belongings,” Kellerman said. “It [a laptop] is just another device that someone can take.”

It should be noted that Wi-Fi is not a free commodity. The bond money was split between Paly and Gunn, and because of this, Scigliano indicated that both schools would benefit from the establishment of the Wi-Fi network.

“The money [for this project] is part of the bonds the board approved in March,” Scigliano said. “It does cost us some.”