There was really nothing out of the ordinary about the new computer lab at Keith High School. It looked just like any other, with 20 basic computers spaced along long tables and a video screen in the front of the room displaying a computer desktop for teaching purposes.

But for the parents, faculty and principals of the Dallas County School System’s Western Zone, the new computer lab represented so much more.

For the school faculty, it means getting the training they need without having to travel very far; for the parents, it means an opportunity to learn some new skills.

The new computer lab, brought to Keith through Title 1 funding, will be strictly used to train faculty and provide basic computer skill classes to parents, grandparents and guardians of students in the county school system.

At its grand opening Thursday night, the excitement over the computer lab was obvious.

Parents, principals, and school faculty each took turns making passionate speeches and saying a lot of thank-you’s for bringing the lab to the Orrville area.

“This lab is so parents can come down to the school and learn some important skills,” said Grady Broadnax, principal of Keith. “Many of you (parents) may not have a computer in your home, but they are in your life. You use some type of computer everyday, which is why we want to encourage parents to come out take these classes.”

Tonya Chestnut, Title 1 Supervisor for Dallas County Schools, said the Parental Involvement computer lab was created at Keith after she realized parents from the Orrville area were not taking advantage of the free training classes offered at the school system’s Learning Resource Center in Selma.

“The parents and grandparents in Orrville did not want to drive all the way into Selma to take the classes, so we decided to bring the classes to them,” she said. “This computer lab is phase two of a three-phase project. Next we want to connect the two labs by satellite so our instructors can teach both classes at the same time.”

Anessa Kidd, instructor at the Keith Parental Involvement computer lab, said the parent training classes would take place every Thursday from 10 a.m. till noon every Thursday.

The first class is set to take place on Feb. 3.

“I’m really excited to be in this community to provide parents and faculty with training,” Kidd said. “I’m working on finding a way to add evening classes for parents who work in the afternoons.”

Freeman Waller, administrative assistant to Superintendent Wayne May, said the computer lab is another example of how the county school system is striving to have some of the best technology in the state.

“I believe we have the right people in this school system to make that happen,” he said.

During the computer lab’s grand opening, parents could hardly wait to begin their training. Everyone sat down in front of a computer and listened as Kidd explained how to turn them on.

“All right everyone,” she said to the parents. “Let’s get started.”