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Grant helps supplement Homewood schools digital needs

Homewood School District 153 received a $139,574 Digital Equity Grant that is helping school officials meet the needs of students and families.

Beth White, technology director for the district, said the funding is allowing the district to purchase iPads for Willow School students. The district already provided devices to each student at Churchill and James Hart Schools.

In addition, the funding is allowing the district to provide Wi-Fi internet access to families who don’t have their own internet connection. White said the hotspot equipment uses cellular networks, rather than the traditional wired networks.

During the Sept. 14 District 153 school board meeting, White and colleague James Cassidy outlined the work the technology team has been doing to make certain each of the district’s 2,000 students is online and able to participate in remote learning.

Cassidy helped train 120 staff members on technology use during the summer. In addition, he led four-day trainings during Institute Week. Those sessions were videotaped and are available to teachers for easy viewing and refreshers.

Cassidy also coordinated with teacher tech leaders at each grade level. They now serve as the point person to help solve some of the technology issues challenging teachers.

White said new, and in some cases free, software packages are allowing teachers and students to more easily connect.

“I’m so proud of our staff getting everything done,” White said. Her team was thrust into not only preparing devices for student use at home, but making additional purchases and getting everyone trained on the technology that they now are using every day.

“We’re all feeling better now because we’ve passed the big bumps in the road,” she added. 

“Now we’re supporting our 2,000 students, our staff working from home, and now parents, grandparents, babysitters and caregivers – I’ve talked to them all. It’s quite a challenge but they have all stepped up. It’s because of the tech staff that everything is running the way it is,” White told board members. 

She said over a 10-day period, staff dealt with 300-plus parent issues, but staff has managed to get the issues addressed in a timely manner.

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