As distance learning continues due to COVID-19, the Lee County School Board says thousands of students are currently without home internet access.
Those students have been unable to participate in distance learning and are having to use the paper-based alternative assignments.
There are also hundreds of district employees without high-speed internet, including teachers.
TO THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS...ANDALL AGES SHOULD BE PRACTICINSOCIAL DISTANCING.AS DISTANCE LEARNING CONTINUESBECAUSE OF COVID-19.WE’RE LEARNING A SIGNIFICANTNUMBER OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERSIN LEE COUNTY, DON’T HAVEAT-HOME INTERNET ACCESS TO DOSOJESSICA ALPERN IS LOOKING INWHAT THE SCHOOL BOARD PLANS TODO TODAY ... TO TRY TO HELP.WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OFSTUDENTS AND HUNDREDS OFEMPLOYEES...INCLUDING TEACHERS.WEEK TWO INTO DISTANCELEARNING...THE SCHOOL BOARD SAYSSOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TOHELP!VOTODAY THEY’LL MEET TO AND AREEXPECTED TO APPROVE AN EMERGENCYPURCHASE.THE PLAN IS TO BUYTHREE-THOUSAND MOBILE HOTSPOWITH CELLULAR DATA SERVICE TOPROVIDE INTERNET ACCESS TO STAAND STUDENT FAMILIES IN NEED.WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A720-THOUSAND-DOLLAR PURCHASE.THE DISTRICT SAYS *THOUSANDS OSTUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUTHOME INTERNET ACCESSTHOSE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN UNABLETO PARTICIPATE IN DISTANCELEARNING AND ARE HAVING TO UTHE PAPER-BASED ALTERNATIVEASSIGNMENTS.THERE ARE ALSO *HUNDREDS OFDISTRICT EMPLOYEES WITHOUT HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.SO THEY TOO ARE UNABLE WORKREMOTE... AND THAT INCLUDESTEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TOTEACH THEIR STUDENTS.RIGHT NOW THE HOT SPOTS WOULD BEFUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.THE SCHOOL BOARD SAYS IT’SLOOKING FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIESAVAILABLE DURING THE PAND