Poulsbo, WA— February 9, 2000

(Poulsbo, WA) Paladin Data Systems Corporation, an Oracle and Microsoft professional consulting firm and Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center, has partnered with several school districts to provide information technology training.

The West Sound School-to-Career consortium is comprised of Bremerton, Central Kitsap, North Kitsap, South Kitsap, North Mason, and Peninsula School Districts, as well as West Sound Technical Skills Center and Olympic College. The group has applied for and been awarded a $100,000 grant under a program sponsored by Washington State; and will be using the funds to train faculty members at Paladin’s Training Facility in Poulsbo.

The grant requires a 50 percent match of cash or in-kind contributions from non-state sources, and Paladin will be fully meeting this requirement.

“This effort underscores Paladin’s commitment to public education. We consider it important to give back to our communities; and in this case, as a Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center, we are in an ideal position to do so, said Jim Nall, President and CEO of Paladin Data Systems Corporation.

“We know that the most important factor for getting more students trained in information technology is getting more teachers trained to use and teach up-to-date technology. Even though the grant offered hardware, software and teaching materials, the consortium directors believe that the greatest need for high schools in this area is an increase in the number of teachers who have current training in the skills needed by industries today,” said Jim Noeldner, Director of Professional Technical Education for North Kitsap School District.

Training of faculty members of the West Sound School Districts will begin as soon as possible, with the majority occurring during the summer months. Paladin Data Systems Corporation currently has offices in Poulsbo and Seattle, Washington and supports clients throughout the United States and Canada.