Help Upgrade Our Classroom Computers!

Hi, my name is Kenneth Velazco, and I'm an Art teacher doing my best to provide meaningful opportunities for my students — both during the school day and after school.

A few years ago, I personally built two desktop computers for my classroom using whatever budget parts I could afford. My goal was to give students access to computers during class time and to support our after-school Yearbook Club, which relies heavily on digital tools for designing and producing the yearbook.

These computers have served us well, but the parts are now over 10 years old and are starting to fail.

Due to failing RAM and outdated components, programs often won’t open, and sometimes the computers won’t even boot at all — unless I go through a lengthy troubleshooting process that can take the machines out of commission for several days at a time. This severely limits student access and delays the work our club is trying to do.

I had planned to use funds raised by the Yearbook Club to upgrade these machines — specifically the motherboards, processors, and RAM — but I’ve been told by my administration that I’m not allowed to purchase technology items, even with our own fundraising, because I don’t teach a "technology" class.

So now, I’m reaching out to the community for help.

What We Need

I'm hoping to raise at least $1,000 to modernize these two classroom PCs.

This will allow:

My students to complete digital assignments and classwork more effectively

Yearbook Club members to use design software without constant crashes or delays

More equitable access to technology for students who don't have computers at home

Wishlist (2 Sets of Each)

~$165

Ryzen 7 5700X (or better) — AM4 socket CPU

~$135

B550/X570 Motherboard (or better) — AM4 compatible Socket.

~$75

DDR4 RAM — 32GB (2x16GB), 3200MHz

Approximately 750 pre tax and shipping.

This upgrade will ensure we have reliable systems that can handle modern software and run smoothly for years to come.

Even small contributions will make a big difference. And if you're not able to donate, just sharing this campaign helps more than you know.

Thank you so much for supporting our students and helping us keep creativity, learning, and access alive in the classroom.

With gratitude,

Kenneth Velazco

_______

Update 1.

Thanks to the support of the first few donors, and my loving wife for a massive contribution, I have what I believe to be the minimum to update some of the parts I need to a newer, but not yet modern build.

That said, if I am able to raise some more money, I'd love to bring the computers up to a much more "modern" build with current gen, rather than just some somewhat newer parts in order to make these last even longer!

Thank you to everyone else who has also contributed to the original goal!

My new wishlist (2 sets of each):

~$250

Ryzen 7 7700x (or better) - AM5 Socket CPU

~$250

B650/x870 Motherboard (or better) - AM5 compatible Socket.

~$100

DDR5 RAM — 32GB (2x16GB), 6400MHz

~$300

RTX 5060 GPU.

(This would not be absolutely needed but would be a dramatic upgrade to onboard graphics)

Approximately $2000 after tax and shipping.

Thank you again.

Kenneth.