Parents were the students Thursday, Sept. 16 at Hephzibah Middle School. The group gathered in the auditorium to learn about Verizon Innovative Learning.
Ashlee Crawford, an instructional technology specialist with Richmond County schools, walked the parents through the program that is starting this month. Verizon will provide every student in Hephzibah Middle School and four other schools with Chromebooks and accessories.
Crawford said Verizon is also providing training for teachers.
“Our teachers are undergoing some rigorous professional learning days,” said Crawford. “They’re also providing us with some STEM equipment. We want our students to be ready for the technology and science world.”
Students will use the equipment at school but will also be permitted to take it home. The devices cannot be used to access social media or to play games unless it’s part of a lesson plan assigned by a teacher. Parents can buy insurance on the equipment assigned to their student for $8.82.
One of the parents learning about the program was Rhonda Askew, parent of an eighth-grader at HMS.
“These kids are a product of a technology-driven era, so why not provide them with technology? Pencil and paper is not going to do it anymore,” she said. “A lot of families are not fortunate to provide for their student, especially if they have more than one child.”
This program started in 2014 according to the Verizon Digital Promise Website. It has spread to more than 400 schools across the country involving more than 212,000 students and 14,000 teachers. More information is available on this website.
Although VIL is a separate program, Crawford said it will work in partnership with the district’s PowerUp initiative. PowerUp uses education sales tax funds to provide a device for every student.
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The district has also resumed WiFi on Wheels. It uses 14 specially-equipped buses to provide wireless internet to students. The WiFi can be accessed within 500 feet of the bus.
The district has released the locations for each bus which will be set up Monday through Thursday. The buses will be on-site from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at:
The Creeks off Gordon Highway near Highland; Cedar Grove near Deans Bridge/ Gordon Highway; Oak Point Office on Oak Street; Regency Village behind Regency Mall; Carr Street off Telfair past Lamar Milledge Elementary; Dogwood Terrace Old Savannah near Gordon Highway; Salem Arms Windsor Spring and Rosier Rd; Village Marie Apts. off Deans Bridge near Georgetown; Augusta Manor off Mike Padgett Highway 56; Magnolia Park near Highland and Damascus Rd; Travis & James Drive near Diamond Lakes Elem; Highview Court near Old McDuffie Road; Butler Creek near Phinizy Road
The 14th bus will be at Castle Pines off Mike Padgett Hwy 56 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Any changes to the bus schedule will be updated on this website.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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