P-3378

COVID-19 computer education ac

Description

Financing

Documents

Photos

History Logs

Project Description

Country: USA

Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Total Budget: $5,040

Area of Focus: Basic education and literacy

Activity Type: Education: General

Summary: 84 months of access to help Bridge the digital Divide that was exposed during COVID-19 School Closure


Bridging the Digital divide, computer education access from home

When Schools closed due to COVID 19 and students started tele-education from their homes, a stark divide was noticed. Many homes did not have any internet access. This created a severe lack of access to education over the internet. In School District # 91 it was determined that at least 300 hot spots would need to provide internet to those without access. The Hotspots were difficult to come by as the entire world was in the same situation. The School District working with AT&T and other partners were able to identify the 300 hot spots and purchased them and two months of connection to get through the end of the school year.

The time during the 2019/2020 school year exposed the Digital Divide in our community. The Idaho Falls Rotary club is purposing to work with School District #91 to provide continued access to the hot spots by providing funding for additional months of service to the hot spots and filtering to be CIPA compliant as required by the state of Idaho. Volunteer club members trained by personal approved by the School District will be liaisons with the families who are using the hot spots and the School District technology department. The role of the liaison will be the check-in with the family on how is the hot spot performing if they are having any technical problems help to solve simple issues and passing along to the technology department contact any tech support needed. Families who choose to be in the program will be contacted at least twice a month by volunteers.

The budget for the project is as follows: Monthly connection costs $50. Filtering $10. Per Hot Spot.

Total cost per month = $60 per hot spot for 84 months of connection =$ 5,040 total cost

District request $2,500 Idaho Falls Rotary club =$2,540

Volunteer hours estimated = 104

The Idaho Falls Rotary Club would like to support the District by providing $5,040 to help defray the costs of providing educational access to students in need of internet connection to further their educational goals. Our club will raise $2,540 for this grant from our happy box funds. If matched by 2,500 in a district grant we would meet our goal to provide internet access for 84 months and provide volunteers to ensure the technology is working well for the education of the students whose families participate in the program.

Project Contact Person

District: 5400

Rotary Club of: Idaho Falls

Primary Contact: Mike O'Bleness

Email: mike.obleness@gmail.com

Project Status

Completed
This project is "Completed". This means the project has been implemented and the report was accepted by the district leadership. The project will stay listed on this website as a testimony of the achievements of the project partners.

Project listed for the 2020-21 Rotary Year.

Proposed Financing

Existing Contributions Towards This Project

Date

Cash

DDF

Total

Idaho Falls (5400)

29-May-20

$2,540

$2,500

$5,040

Total

$2,540

$2,500

$5,040

Project Supporting Documents

Project Photos


There are no photos yet for this project.
Go to the administration page to upload photos.

History Log Entries

29-May-20

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Creation of project page.

30-May-20

by Marianne Barker

TRF requires active Rotarian involvement in its grant projects. Please add what Rotarians will do to be involved with this specific project or with the school district in general to fulfill the hands-on proponent. Note that TRF special provisions regarding expenses for COVID19 projects are for health care projects, so you will not be able to be reimbursed for expenses incurred prior to the approval of the grant. Our block grant is normally approved by mid-July. Please add more Rotarian activities to your project description, then send for signatures before June 1, 2020. The send for signatures button is on the administration side of the description tab. Do not send to district administrators for signatures. This sounds like a great project!

31-May-20

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Project reverted to "Published".

31-May-20

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".

31-May-20

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Project sent for club signatures.

31-May-20

System Entry

System Entry: Project signed by Michelle Holt.

31-May-20

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Project signed by Mike O'Bleness.

15-Jul-20

by Ines Crespo

System Entry: Project approved by the District Approval Committee.

4-Aug-20

by T. J. Adams

System Entry: Check for DDF payment issued by Foundation Treasurer.

17-Feb-21

by Mike O'Bleness

Grant funds were distributed to School District 91 in September. The grant funds are supporting 13 families access to broadband internet. The internet access supports the education through distance learning and access to information not previously available to the students. Regular contact is made with the School District to coordinate volunteers to meet the needs of these students.

17-Apr-21

by Marianne Barker

This is a reminder that your final report is due May 15, 2021 Find the final report form on the administration side of the description tab. You'll need receipts to equal the expense amount you enter in the report. Your revenue must equal your expenses. Upload as pdf your final report and your receipts and/or cancelled checks to recipients to the documents tab of your grant, then click on "reported on the admin. side of the description tab. Failure to report by the deadline could result in the club being ineligible for a grant in 2021-22. If you need help, contact Ines Crespo, ines@glasinbalance.com, 208 320-8494.

11-May-21

by Ines Crespo

Reminder: A progress or final report is due no later than May 15, 2021. If you have any questions, contact Ines Crespo, district grants subcommittee chair, at (208) 320-8494 or ines@glassinbalance.com.

25-May-21

by Mike O'Bleness

Project update

The Idaho Falls Rotary club continues to track the progress of the 13 families that our grant has supported their internet service costs. The families all reported that it has been a challenging year for their children's education, having access to the internet and its connection to remote learning has been a great help. School is back to in person classes and the families still find the access to the internet is helpful.

As the school year comes to a close the club will use the final $40.00 help extend internet for one familie until the COVID relief funds for the district can pick up and expand the bridging the digital divide. Once the final funds are distributed to the school, the school year ends, and clear the bank we will be able to complete our final report.

13-Jul-21

by Marianne Barker

Is your project finished? This is a reminder to submit a final report including pertinent receipts, cancelled checks and other documents. The final report form can be found on the administration side of the Description tab in your grant at www.matchinggrants.org. After uploading your documents in pdf format, click "reported" on the admin side of the description tab. Thank you!

15-Jul-21

by Mike O'Bleness

The final funds were distributed in June to support the internet connection for an additional family to have access for education over summer school. This brings the total number of families for the project to 15. With this payment and the follow-up support provided by Club members the project is completed. A total of 40 hours of volunteer support was provided.

15-Jul-21

by Bob Rose

I need your Final Report uploaded. Then I can audit this project and approve it.

15-Jul-21

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.

20-Jul-21

by Bob Rose

The Final Report is not uploaded. Please upload it and then I can audit this project.

20-Jul-21

by Bob Rose

System Entry: Project reverted to "Paid".

23-Jul-21

by Mike O'Bleness

With the help of a fellow Rotarian I have found the link to the final Report! It will be uploaded shortly.

23-Jul-21

by Bob Rose

I have audited this project and I approve it.

23-Jul-21

by Mike O'Bleness

System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.

23-Jul-21

by Bob Rose

System Entry: Final report approved by the District Approval Committee.

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