Guilford County Schools are taking steps to make sure students have access to remote learning, while also keeping them fed as learning facilities remain closed because of COVID-19. | Photo Courtesy of Pexels
Guilford County Schools are taking steps to make sure students have access to remote learning, while also keeping them fed as learning facilities remain closed because of COVID-19. | Photo Courtesy of Pexels
Guilford County Schools educators and administration are rising to the challenge of teaching and feeding students despite having the doors locked at on-campus facilities.
COVID-19 forced the school district to close, leading to focusing on online learning funded with substantial financial help from several partners to make sure students have the necessary technologies and internet access.
WFMY News 2 reported on March 23 that 65.7% of the district qualifies for free or reduced meals, which can provide an indicator of poverty and the need to bridge a technological gap between the schoolhouse and home.
Guilford Educational Agency is one of the community partners working with the district to place learning devices in students' homes, News 2 reported. The organization made a dent, working in tandem with the school district to distribute 4,000 laptops.
Another partner, Technology for the Future, issued a challenge to raise $700,000 and worked out a deal to pay $70 for each refurbished laptop, News 2 reported. The Guilford Educational Agency set an additional goal to raise another $700,000 to purchase approximately 10,000 laptops.
Even Superintendent Sharon Contreras, a member of the national educational nonprofit Chiefs for Change, worked with the organization to make a $125,000 donation.
“Without equity of access, we risk doing great harm to our most vulnerable students and families,” Contreras told News 2. “In addition to federal and state funding for hardware and connectivity, we need telecommunications companies to move quickly to expand high-speed internet connection.”
The district is aware every student may not have access to a hot spot. Hot spots will be accessible from the parking lots of Herbin Metz education center, Hunter Elementary, Jamestown Middle, Christine Joyner Greene Education Center, McNair Elementary, Simkins Elementary, Western Guilford Middle and Eastern Guilford.
The nonprofits' efforts should have an even greater impact because of the state allocating $50 million to support remote learning, meals and childcare among other education-related programs during the closings.
“We are working together to provide programs and resources to ensure the continues health, safety and education and North Carolina students,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement about the funding on March 24.
Lunch and breakfast are available from more than 40 school sites to ensure students on free or reduced lunches will have access to food. Kids aged 0 to 18 can receive free meals from 11 a.m. to noon.
Alerts Sign-up