Prairieview-Ogden is going to get faster internet.
The district has received the E-rate Funding Grant.
The grant is used to help schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunication and Internet access.
The program is administered by the Universal Service Administration Company under the direction of the FCC.
Discounts given to schools and libraries depend on the level of poverty and the urban or rural status of the population served and range from 20% to 90% of the costs of eligible services.
E-rate was mandated by Congress in 1996 and implemented by the FCC in 1997.
A school or library that wishes to participate in the E-rate program must submit a request for competitive bids for the specific E-rate supported services it seeks to the Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC posts those requests on its website for vendors to see. After reviewing the bids it has received, the school or library selects its preferred vendor and submits an application to USAC for approval listing its desired purchases then USAC issues funding commitments to eligible applicants.
Once a vendor provides the selected services to the applicant, either the vendor or the applicant submits requests to USAC for reimbursement of the approved discounts.
Fiber optic internet will be installed at PVO North Elementary in Royal and PVO Junior High in Flatville.
The cost will be $90,000.
The remaining $11,850 will be used to pay for the month-to-month cost of the internet for fiscal year 2019.
Superintendent Vic White said the grant, along with the ISBE State Fiber Grant for at least $37,500, will allow the school to have fast internet at both school buildings.
White expects installation to begin in the Spring with completion by August.
The PVO Board also discussed moving one fifth or sixth grade teacher to the junior high for two years because of large enrollment at the junior high for 2019-20 and 2020-21. The board decided there will only be one class of fifth-grade at PVO South Elementary in 2019-20 and then only one class of sixth grade at PVO South Elementary in 2020-21.
Also at the meeting, White told the board that he hand delivered 12 high honor yard signs to junior high students’ homes.
White said he did that to show the importance of getting outstanding grades and getting on the high honor roll.
