United States Department of Agriculture
Rural Development
World Wide Web: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov
EXETER REGION COOPERATIVE SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES $499,300 USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
DISTANCE LEARNING CONNECTS SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NORTHWESTERN VERMONT
USDA Rural Development Administrator Peter Thomas joined Jolinda LaClair, State Director of USDA Rural Development for Vermont and New Hampshire at the presentation of a $499,300 Distance Learning Telemedicine Grant to the Exeter Region Cooperative School District.
“The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program is specifically designed to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America through the use of advanced telecommunications technologies,” said Administrator Thomas. “The award of these resources to the Exeter Region Cooperative School District underscores the Bush Administration’s commitment to the use of valuable educational technology.”
The funds will be used to place internet provider–based video conferencing equipment at two rural NH schools, nine rural Orleans County, VT schools and three NH hub sites. The network will use public internet connectivity to offer educational opportunities to students, teachers, and community members and will serve over 2,000 students and approximately 17,500 residents in the area.
“On behalf of the partner schools involved in this project, I would like to thank the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for selecting our application for funding,” said Dr. Steve Kossakoski, Assistant Superintendent, Technology and Research, SAU 16. “We sincerely believe that the professional development and K-12 curriculum that will be delivered and shared among the partner schools will greatly benefit our students and teachers.”
The end user sites in Vermont are located in one of the northern most counties of the state where travel can be treacherous for up to eight months of the year. This geographically isolated location severely limits the residents’ ability to commute outside their communities for training and education. The grant will provide the type of high quality courses that are usually found only in wealthy communities with a tax base to support this level of education.
All partner schools will receive interactive video conferencing equipment and training as part
of this project. This technology will allow us to share resources and collaborate with schools and content specialists anywhere in the world. For example, educators in Vermont could participate in workshops being hosted in Exeter at the Seacoast Professional Development Center
without ever leaving their school. It will also be possible for students in New Hampshire and Vermont to participate in a virtual field trip to places like the Buffalo Zoo where they will talk with a biologist who will be working with live animals.
“This Distance Learning Grant addresses a critical need for providing expanded educational, vocational and technical opportunities to students, as well as professional development and continuing education for teachers, and community members,” said LaClair.
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. USDA Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.