Press Room
Region's schools to recieve videoconference equipment through grant
As part of a $621,000 grant funded by Qwest Settlement dollars, 17 school districts in the region will receive K-20 videoconference equipment to enhance learning opportunities.
The schools who will benefit from the Next Generation K-20 Videoconferencing Project are: Castle Rock School District; Evergreen School District; Glenwood School District; Green Mountain School District; Kalama School District; Klickitat School District; La Center School District; Lyle School District; Mount Pleasant School District; Naselle-Grays River Valley School District; Ridgefield School District; Skamania School District; Wahkiakum School District; Washington State School for the Deaf; Washougal School District; White Salmon Valley School District; and Wishram School District.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will administer the Next Generation K-20 Videoconferencing Project with $621,000 funded from the QWEST Settlement funds. The overriding goal of this project is to promote and expand the instructional use of interactive videoconferencing across all of the sectors in the K-20 system, by replacing and/or enhancing videoconferencing endpoint equipment to support updated video protocols and their inherent increased flexibility in mobility, with a focus on classroom deployment.
Funds for videoconferencing equipment were available to educational institutions that requested them and demonstrated a readiness to use it to support teaching and learning. To ensure accountability, applicants agreed to terms and conditions that included the removal and re-allocation of funded equipment, if it is not used for the intended instructional purposes, within one year after its receipt, including participation in at least three instructional uses of videoconferencing.
"The technology staff here at ESD 112 are thrilled that so many districts in Southwest Washington were awarded these grants," shared Debbie Tschirgi, Director of Educational Technology Programs at the ESD. "The use of the K-20 network for videoconferencing opens new doors to learning for the students in this region. With this new, improved equipment, districts will be better able to offer regularly-scheduled distance learning classes, virtual field trips, one-time instructional events and other activities that extend their learning opportunities beyond the four walls of their classrooms." Tschirgi joined Jeff Andrews, Laura Anderson and Kathy Koren in putting together some documentation to help the districts write their applications for the grant. Statewide, more than 300 applications were submitted for funding through this grant, and 88 were selected for award on November 1, 2006.