Despite the last few years' growth in awareness of open-source software in schools and the potential savings it represents, its widespread adoption is still hampered. Randy Orwin, technology director of the Bainbridge Island School District in Washington State and a strong open-source advocate, cautions that installing an open-source infrastructure is neither easy nor cheap. Linux management tools are not robust enough to handle thousands of desktops, he says, and this leaves IT directors to deal with the complexity, either at the back end or on the desktops, depending on the configuration. On a local level, it's often tough to convince skeptical officials to switch to open source, especially to products that directly affect desktop users. The author discusses the realities of running open source in school and the hurdles faced in adopting open-source software in schools. The author also discusses the trends that are emerging on the open-source front and presents best open source resources for schools.