WEST JEFFERSON, N.C.—SkyLine Membership Corporation has announced grant awards to area public school systems that support student access to technology in the classroom. Through the SkyLine Technology Education Grant Program, the cooperative 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 grant awards were announced to area school system officials during a special program at Frasers Restaurant on April 26. Attended by nearly 20 people, the program included remarks by SkyLine Chief Executive Officer John Dixon, an overview of the grant program and presentation of awards.
“As a cooperative, SkyLine’s core mission is service,” said Dixon. “We believe this goes beyond the provision of telecom services only. Our board and staff place a high value on service to our communities and being a good corporate citizen. We live and work in the communities we serve, and we see not only the need but the impact of this support firsthand,” he said.
The concept of a grant program originated with SkyLine’s officer group, and their overriding goal was to have a broad, positive impact in the area of technology with area public schools. Speaking to area school system officials, Dixon said, “I don’t think you can overstate the importance of public education, and we hope that this grant program will give you some additional tools that will make your job just a little easier.”
Dixon announced the following awards to the five county school systems where the cooperative serves: Alleghany County Schools will receive $9,000; Ashe County Schools will receive $18,500; Avery County Schools will receive $9,000; Watauga County Schools will receive $13,500; 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.
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.
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.
Since this grant program was first announced in 2006, SkyLine officials acknowledged that subsequent efforts by other local businesses, school boards and county government have helped to purchase additional SMART Boards. At the April 26 event, area school officials praised SkyLine for raising awareness and starting a trend among businesses and the community at large to acquire more SMART Boards for the schools.
Another goal this program is to make the entire grant process as seamless as possible for area schools, according to Karen Powell, SkyLine Public Relations Director, who administers the grant program. “This is 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 grants include the purchase and installation of equipment as well introductory and advanced training sessions for area teachers,” 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.
Powell said that response to the grant program by teachers, school technology facilitators and students has been very positive. “We have received numerous letters, some of which were handwritten by students, and e-mails from teachers and school officials that speak to the value of our investment in technology as a tremendous teaching tool that will enhance the education of students,” she said.
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 focus 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. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, SkyBest Communications, offers de-regulated products and services, including local calling services, business systems and networking solutions, broadband Internet services and long distance. |
