Palm Beach County School District purchases more than 1200 Pioneer LaserDisc players; Florida School District to place Level III LaserDisc player in every other elementary classroom

Business Wire, Sept 13, 1995

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 1995--Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc., the leader in innovative LaserDisc technology, Wednesday announced the purchase of more than 1200 Pioneer CLD-V2400 LaserDisc players by Palm Beach County School District in Florida.

Marking one of the largest Pioneer LaserDisc purchases by a single school district, this substantial investment places the Level III players in more than half of Palm Beach County's elementary school classrooms and in all middle school social studies classrooms.

"As one of the largest and most progressive school districts in the nation, Palm Beach County Schools' decision to implement LaserDisc technology at the classroom level sets a precedent in the education community and represents an uncompromising commitment to LaserDisc's longevity and validity as an instructional resource," noted Hank Evers, vice president of sales and marketing for Pioneer New Media Technologies.

The purchase of the Pioneer CLD-V2400 LaserDisc players is part of the Palm Beach County Schools' five-year strategy to increase technology-based education capabilities at every grade level. Committed to improving student learning at every opportunity, the school district selected the Pioneer CLD-V2400 for its ability to enhance classroom instruction with full-motion video, high fidelity audio, true-to-life images, easy operation and adaptability to any curriculum.

The LaserDisc players will be used with existing computers in each classroom and specially-selected software to creatively introduce elementary students to science and social studies, and present sixth and seventh graders with new perspectives on social studies.

"LaserDisc technology has been a consistent choice for Palm Beach County because if offers relevant resources in a format that dramatically enhances the learning experience and best meets our district's needs," said Vern Crawford, coordinator of multimedia services for Palm Beach County School District.

"We chose LaserDisc over other available technologies because it is easy for our teachers to use and allows them to immediately access specific information when they need it. Every school in the district has at least one LaserDisc player, and our extensive library of LaserDisc titles is more than 500 strong and still growing."

Crawford added, "Pioneer was a logical choice for our district-wide implementation of LaserDisc technology because the company has an excellent track record, holds the Florida state bid for LaserDisc equipment and offers LaserDisc solutions that are compatible with our district's integrated learning system computer network."

The district plans to continue working with Pioneer to complete the placement of LaserDisc equipment in every social studies and science classroom from second through eighth grades.

Serving a growing, multi-cultural population of 127,000 students in more than 130 schools, Palm Beach County School District has long been recognized as a "pioneer" in the early adoption and utilization of educational technology.

First in Florida and among the first districts nation-wide to use LaserDisc technology in the classroom, Palm Beach County Schools partnered with Florida State University in 1983 to introduce the Pioneer LD-V2200 LaserDisc player in high school chemistry classrooms.

In 1991, the district used state grant funds to implement "Windows on Science" LaserDisc pilot science programs in several elementary and middle schools using Pioneer LD-V2200 LaserDisc players.

The Multimedia and Mass Storage Division of Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc., is an innovator of world-class laser optical technologies.

The company's products include LaserDisc players; CD-ROM drives, changers and jukeboxes; CD-R drives; optical drives; media; software; controllers; and accessories for a wide range of storage and multimedia solutions in the educational, government, industrial and general business markets.

For more information contact Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc., at 2265 E. 220th St., Long Beach, Calif. 90810; phone 800/LASERON (517-3766) for product information.

CONTACT: Maples & Associates

Cheryl Mundt/Krysti Nyland, 714/253-8737