This post reminds me of why I installed the K12 Linux Terminal Server Project. It’s a great way to repurpose those old machines and to run away from the blue screen of death.
For the price of a server, that lab could be running the newest versions of Firefox and OpenOffice.org. If you are looking at a use for old machines, please take a moment to check out the K12 Linux Terminal Server Project.
After reading a comment to Dave Warlick’s blog on wifi access in schools, I had to respond with a comment of my own.
If you are the teacher of a school district and your IT staff says they can’t secure WIFI access, you need to start asking questions. Wifi access can be made relative secure.
(From my comment:)
1. Turn off the broadcast SSID, this stops the wireless from showing up when someone opens their laptop. (Security by obscurity isn’t the best, but it’s a start! 
)
2. Turn on WPA encryption.
3. Put the wireless on their own VLAN where it doesn’t have access to internal resources. You can combine this with VPN access so authenticated users can access the internal network. This step requires some knowledge to setup.
Just as a network administrator must take the steps to secure wired access, steps must also be taken with the wireless network.