February 23, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Karen P. Powell, Public Relations Manager
SkyLine Membership Corporation
336-982-3800, ext. 6117
Karen.powell@SkyLine.org

SkyLine Chief Executive Officer John Dixon (at right) presents an $18,000 grant award to Ashe County Schools' Directory of Technology Amy Walker and Superintendent Donnie Johnson.

Ashe County Schools Receive $18,000 Grant
SkyLine Unveils New Technology Education Grant for Area Public Schools

WEST JEFFERSON, N.C.—SkyLine Membership Corporation has announced a new educational grant program for area public schools designed to increase student access to technology in the classroom. Through the Technology Education Grant, SkyLine has designated a total of $55,000 to be distributed among county school systems in the cooperative's five-county service area. This year's grant awards will go toward the purchase of SMART Board™ interactive white boards for area schools.

The new grant was announced to area school superintendents and school system technology directors during a special program at SkyLine's corporate offices on February 22. Attended by around 20 people, the program included remarks by SkyLine Chief Executive Officer John Dixon, an overview of the grant, a SMART Board demonstration and presentation of grant awards.

"The purpose of this new initiative is to support the use of innovative technology in the classroom," said Dixon. The concept of a grant program originated with SkyLine's officer group consisting of Chief Operating Officer Sandie Bower, Chief Technology Officer Jimmy Blevins and Chief Financial Officer Michael Lewis. "Their overriding goal was to have a broad, positive impact in the area of technology with our public schools," Dixon said.

For many years, the cooperative has either contributed to or developed numerous programs that benefit area public schools, but this latest initiative demonstrates an even greater financial commitment to technology and public education.

SkyLine worked with area technology directors over the last several months to get feedback on the schools' technology needs. "The input we received from area school systems was invaluable, and their needs ranged from laptops and PCs to staff development, PDAs and SMART Boards," said SkyLine Chief Operating Officer Sandie Bower. "What resonated with our officer group was the SMART Board, because of its multiple applications, its interaction with other technologies and its ability to be used in a whole-class environment."

An interactive whiteboard system comprises three pieces of technology linked together—a computer, a digital projector and the interactive whiteboard itself. It is a combination large display panel and input device about the size of a standard dry-erase board. Information from the computer is displayed by the projector onto the touch-sensitive whiteboard, which essentially functions as a monitor. To operate an interactive whiteboard, you simply touch the panel using your finger or a stylus, similar to the way you use your mouse on your computer. You can control applications, navigate the Web and write over applications, Web sites and digital videos in digital ink.

During SkyLine's meeting with area school systems, company officials announced the following awards to the five county school systems where the cooperative serves: Alleghany County Schools will receive $9,500; Ashe County Schools will receive $18,000; Avery County Schools will receive $9,500; Watauga County Schools will receive $13,000; and Johnson County Schools will receive $5,000.

Funding was based on the percentage of members in each of the five counties that SkyLine serves. County school systems' technology directors will work with area school technology staff to determine where the SMART Boards will be placed, with emphasis placed on those schools located in SkyLine's service area or schools located in other areas in the county where children of SkyLine members would matriculate. SkyLine will work with area school systems and Seed Communications, an authorized dealer, to purchase the SMART Board equipment.

SkyLine officials plan to continue the program next year, though actual funding amounts will be subject to the financial condition of the cooperative and its annual budgeting process.

"Skyline continues to find ways to look into the investment of our future," said Ashe County Schools Superintendent Donnie Johnson. "I'm so excited about the grant that will allow for the funding of some SMART Boards that will be placed in our schools. Skyline continues to set the standard as a corporate partner that assists in the educational needs of Ashe County students," he said.

Research shows that in addition to their ability to accommodate different learning styles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic), interactive white boards have a positive effect on student engagement, motivation, retention and review. Furthermore, interactive whiteboards benefit teachers by helping them streamline lesson planning and delivery.

"An important aspect of this project is to make the entire grant process as seamless as possible for our schools," said Karen Powell, SkyLine Public Relations Manager, who will administer the grant program each year. "We intend for this program to be a collaborative effort between SkyLine, Seed Communications and area public schools, and we will provide support from the time grants are awarded until the students use the SMART Board for the very first time. The purchase and installation of equipment, and the training of teachers are all part of this initiative," she said. Each SMART Board package is designed to include the interactive whiteboard, projector, a combination DVD/VHS player, wall-mounted speakers and an amplifier.

During its research of potential funding projects, SkyLine learned a great deal about interactive whiteboards after receiving feedback from area schools, including Westwood Elementary in Ashe County, one of two schools in the region, along with Crossnore Elementary in Avery County, that have received significant grant support to fund technology.

"Jeannie Gambill and Marty Norris at Westwood were two great resources for us as we sought to learn more about the use of SMART Boards in our public schools, and at least one teacher there told me of all the new teaching tools that have made their way into the classroom in the last few years, the SMART Board has been the most valued," Powell said.

Most area public schools are in great need of additional SMART Boards, with an average of just two to three boards per elementary or middle school and an average of eight boards per high school.

SkyLine expects SMART Boards to be installed in area schools by early April, and initial training sessions for teachers will be hosted by SkyLine and conducted by Seed Communications and SMART Technologies in late April. Further, in-depth training will be scheduled for these same teachers in the fall.

SkyLine is a member-owned cooperative, providing a variety of telecommunications services to its members in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties in North Carolina, and Johnson County in east Tennessee. Along with its current plans of building a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network, SkyLine is committed to enhancing the quality of life across the region through various charitable, educational and economic development programs and initiatives. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, SkyBest Communications, offers de-regulated products and services, including local calling services, business systems solutions, broadband Internet services and long distance.