Internet Access for Students at Eggerts Crossing Village
From LTWPwiki
A staffer (Tonia Moore) in the Lawrence School District told me that many students in the district would benefit from Internet access nearer their homes than is currently available. I (Bill Michaelson) am investigating possibilities for the backhaul and site installation, and I've been working with Tonia to actually install the system. Suggestions, assistance, donations (time, equipment or money) will be gratefully accepted (see below).
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The Challenge
Many students who live at Eggerts Crossing Village do not have computer access. The high school library closes at 4pm and many of our students must go directly home from school to attend to younger siblings. The public library is a distance for a child to walk. The Internet terminals at the public library are frequently all occupied anyway.
Teachers in the High School require current events emailed to them. Assignments often need to be emailed. Students are required to use the Internet as a research tool. Parents in the district are now able to monitor their child's progress online via Power School software. Students who are looking fo part time jobs are told to apply on line. It is essential that students who are economically disadvantaged be able to comply with the requirements of their teachers and that their parents have access to Power School.
Mission
It is our mission to make the Internet accessible to students in Eggerts Crossing Village, and then to acquire donated computers for the students who do not have them. We will also train a group of teens and adults who live in the village to be assistants to those in the village who need help using their computers.
Progress
The first phase of equipment installation is nearly complete. These pages describe the parts of this project to date:
- ECV Wireless: Investigation of Options
- ECV Wireless: Implementation -what has been done
Also, the Town Council passed a resolution asking the Cable Advisory Committee to study the possibility of providing some kind of IP wireless service for public access. I (Bill Michaelson) will research and report back to the Cable Committee. See Lawrence Township Public Access Wireless Service Study.
How to Help
Contact Audrey Barton or Fred Vereen at (609) 671-5510, ext. 2631 if you would like to help.
We are now seeking:
- donations of computers
- donations of computer parts for use in a wireless network
- donations of funds to pay for an Internet connection on an ongoing basis, and for parts and equipment
- donations of time and skills as appropriate
