Internet connectivity program continues
Riverside Schools officials reported at their Tuesday evening virtual meeting about the district’s expansion of the Internet accessibility project, along with the high school’s receipt of a Ohio Department of Education literacy grant totaling nearly $500,000.
Junior High/High School Principal Kelly Kauffman provided details regarding the ODE funding, relating that it is unusual for high schools to receive a literacy grant, which is usually a focus for the younger grade levels. The grant continues for the next four to five years and provides programming materials and a reading coach.
Superintendent Scott Mann related that assisting the older students with improving their reading skills will also prove beneficial in the reading involved in their other course work, from science to math and social studies.
Regarding the district’s Internet connectivity program, Riverside previously secured a $171,000 Broadband Connectivity Grant, part of $50 million distributed to schools around Ohio through CARES Act funds set aside by the state. The district had found during the school shutdown last spring that many of its pupils lacked Internet access at home and wanted to improve that accessibility issue.
Through working with OARnet, PCs for People and the WOCO Information Technology Center, affordable Internet access is now available to residents in DeGraff, Quincy and Logansville at the rate of $15 per month, as previously detailed in the Examiner.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria also visited Riverside Schools last month to kick off the effort and to congratulate the district and its partners on the program ingenuity.
Households that want to sign up for the Internet service in the local communities can call (512) 640-0905, or a local phone number, (216) 352-5594.
Subscribers will pay a low upfront fee for a router and then a low monthly fee of $15.
The school district also is subsidizing the cost of some units to help low-income households.
Mann related that the district met with PCs for People this week and they are developing a current map of the coverage area for the program.
Community members also have stepped up to have relay towers placed on their properties so that service can be improved in the area.
According to a previous release from the Lt. Governor’s Office, families that sign up will receive speeds estimated at 50 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload with no contract and no added equipment fees. The speed of Internet will be twice that of the federal minimum definition of high-speed Internet.
In buildings and grounds matters, the board also accepted the lowest bid of $93,900 from Westerheide Construction Company for the freezer/cooler replacement project. The effort will be paid from permanent improvement funds.
Members also approved a temporary resolution in accordance with Amended Substitute House Bill 409 to expand the employment of substitute teachers. The resolution waives the bachelor’s degree requirement through June 30, but still requires individuals to undergo a background check and obtain a substitute teaching license from the ODE, Mann related.
In other action, the board:
• approved Course Catalog revisions for the 2021-2022 school year; and
• approved the following students for early graduation after meeting all state and local graduation requirements: Joseph Max McIntire and Jalynn Stanley.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, in the school library.