2 | May 20, 2017 • The North Countryman Sun
www.suncommunitynews.com
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
Beekmantown Central bus fleet now equipped with Wi-Fi Advancement part of district’s growing technology-based learning efforts By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
BEEKMANTOWN — No longer will school bus rides be boring for Beekmantown Central students. The district has expanded its offering of free Wi-Fi on 12 school buses, which is half their transport vehicles. About 60 percent of the student body will benefit, said Superintendent Dan Mannix, when going to and from school, sporting events and field trips. District officials hope this will aid educational purposes. A Wi-Fi access point is added to each bus and provides students with 500 megabytes of data per day, or 3,000 a month, said Director of 21st Century Learning Gary Lambert. Students spend on average almost four hours on a bus each day, he said. The district currently pays $1,000 for each access point and around $1,600 a year for data, which is paid for through the district’s Extended Learning Time grant. Officials are currently exploring increasing the data limit on the buses that have the longest routes. “There’s nothing to do on the bus during those long trips,” said Lambert. “We know the kids are definitely using it because the data is getting depleted down.” Officials are currently exploring increasing the data limit on the buses that have the longest routes, said
Superintendent Dan Mannix, who also shared the possibility of having all buses equipped with Wi-Fi access one day. “We want our students to be productive no matter where they are,” said Mannix. “This is a way to do just that.” This milestone is part of the district’s ongoing efforts to expose students to a world filled with technology. The effort started back in 2015 when the district launched its One-to-One Digital Literacy initiative to match one student with one Dell Chromebook and grow educational technology in the classroom. That April, 670 students got Chromebooks. Now, all
the students from 1st to 11th grade have access to devices thanks to $1.5 million in state funds awarded last year. The district anticipates having close to 100 percent of the student body having access, said Lambert. Along with the Wi-Fi on buses, the district introduced the HotSpot program in 2015, which offers wireless devices to students who don’t have internet access at home. Currently, about 7 percent of the district’s students don’t have readily available access. District officials are still seeking more ways to increase their technological offerings to students.
NCVA seeking funds to launch proposed expansion Veterans group aims to raise $240,000 for Phase 2 of project to heighten efforts By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Veterans Association (NCVA) is starting Phase 2 of its expansion
efforts. NCVA — a Plattsburgh-based organization that provides services to veterans in the tri-county area — is looking to expand its center, museum, library and food shelf offerings. Plans include adding a 1,330 square-foot addition to the 5,600 square-foot building on Town Line Road. The expansion will add a new curator’s office, computer server room and food shelf storage area, said NCVA Secretary Ken Hynes. The administrative offices, media library and computer service room will be upgraded. New computer systems, museum display cases and office equipment will be purchased. This project is expected to cost around $350,000, said Hynes. So far, the association has secured $110,000 through donations and a state grant. The NCVA is currently seeking more grant funding, said Hynes. Fundraisers are being planned.
Officials are shooting for a late 2018 completion date. “Success breeds success,” he said. “We find ourselves now with the need to implement Phase 2 of our development plan.” HEIGHTENING EFFORTS The NCVA serves over 200 veterans, offering a number of support services, including group counseling. “We will do anything for a vet who needs help,” said Treasurer Frank McGrath. Hynes said the on-site library and service center is used on a day-to-day basis. So far this year, local vets in need have filled over 80 cardboard boxes of food from the on-site food shelf, said McGrath. Over 100 baskets are filled on average per year. The NCVA’s annual Christmas food basket program serves 80 to 90 families each year. “The federal, state and local fundraising efforts have progressed us to a pivotal point,” Hynes said. “We must provide additional and improved services to our area veterans.”
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20 | May 20, 2017 • The North Countryman Sun
www.suncommunitynews.com
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.