By Elizabeth Bonin, Staff Writer

(May 22, 2020) Worcester County Public Schools will receive a $32,750 Emergency Broadband Education Assistance grant from the Governor’s Office of Rural Broadband and the Department of Housing and Community Development. The Board of Public Works approved the grant request as Maryland schools have been distance learning since the end of March.

On May 6, it was announced that schools will be closed for the rest of the year.

According to a press release from Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R-38) the funding will be used for exterior wireless access points on Worcester school buildings.

“Students, teachers, and parents are facing challenges when it comes to finding new ways to learn from home and finding other accessible online sites to be utilized,” Carozza said in the release. “This grant is so important to rural areas on the Shore and ensuring that my constituents have access to broadband remains one of my top priorities.”

She added that this will benefit students without internet access because they can complete work in a vehicle near an access point.

Lou Taylor

Superintendent Lou Taylor said he was grateful for the grant.

“As a rural county with broad socioeconomic dynamics, it is imperative that we can provide equitable access to reliable internet connectivity for continuity of learning,” Taylor said. “We hope that these wireless access points will be able to provide another avenue of reaching those families that struggle with finding reliable connectivity.”

As of the end of April, Worcester schools had a 96 percent attendance rate for online learning. The school system has also given out 600 hotspots for families with students who are in dire need of internet access.

If internet connectivity is still not available to the students, schools have been providing printed copies of the materials. Since schools will not reopen, arrangements will be made to have school materials mailed to be graded.