In my limited exposure to K-12 systems I have noted that in every district I've seen, there has been a software package in use for grade/attendance tracking, etc. that requires either Windows or Mac. Aside from the non-trivial issues of training, we really need an open-source alternative to the proprietary systems for this that are out there now. Of course, I'm no expert and there very well may be an open source project. If so, I'd be interested because the cost savings to my local school district would be huge I suspect.

There's a simple answer to why western, sparsely populated states have slow Internet speeds. The ISP's haven't upgraded their infrastructure. Last I checked, we're still all using protected twisted pair wiring (That's barbed wire to you lucky folks who use lectricity for lights instead of powering that fence to keep our critters in.)