Laptop Computers Given To Glascock County Students And Families

Serena Zimmerman cried when Family Connections called to tell her that her 12-year-old daughter, Paisley Neal, was one of 75 children selected to receive a free laptop in Glascock County.

"It means a lot to me to be selected," Zimmerman said. “We may be middle class, but I have to struggle a lot and have no extra money to buy a laptop. Nothing like that happens here. We seem to have been forgotten many times. It means a lot to me that my family will be chosen as one of those families."

Glascock County Schools Family and Community Services distributed 75 newly refurbished laptops to students and families on Tuesday, August 22. Funded by AT&T's donation to Human IT, these laptops aim to provide these families with the tools they need to bridge the digital divide between rural America and the virtual learning programs, technology skills, and career readiness needed to have success today and in the future. . it will come. .

“When we had COVID, we realized how under-resourced our district was,” said Glascock County School Superintendent Jim Holton. "We tried to create a virtual home school like other schools in the state."

But they found that the infrastructure hadn't been built to support widespread mobile access, let alone broadband Internet access. Two towers have since been built on the site. However, he found that there were still many families in the small rural district who did not have the equipment they needed.

“Access to technology and digital devices is critical to how our students learn in today's digital world. That's how they complete tasks, discover new career opportunities, and interact with others,” Holton said. "These devices will change students' lives and open up new opportunities."

The complimentary laptop is part of AT&T's Connected Learning Initiative, created to bridge the digital divide by improving Internet access, convenience, and safe learning opportunities. The human IT company will provide a one-year warranty and free technical support to families receiving these gifts for a period of one year.

"Bridging the digital divide is a top priority in Glascock County, and this partnership with AT&T and Family Connections and Communities in Schools helps break down barriers and provide equitable solutions for Glascock County students and families," said Lori Bayen , Glascock Borough President. Commission. "Equipping students with these devices gives them the tools they need to succeed academically and in life."

The goal is for all families to benefit from computer use, said Wanda Davis, executive director of school and family services for the district. They are designed not only to help students in their studies but also to give parents access to the digital world.

AT&T Regional Director Stan Shepherd, State Representative Mac Jackson and State Senator Max Burns were among those in attendance at the public computer launch. All three spoke of the donations as an investment in the people of Glascock County and their desire to help computers gain more opportunities for them.

"I just want to thank you again," Zimmerman said. “Thank you will never be enough for something like this. Paisley is very excited. She did her homework that first night and has done it every day since, looking up different pieces of information about the literature they read at school.

This article originally appeared in the Augusta Chronicle: Laptops Donated to Glascock County Students and Families.

ECSD Board Meeting 09/08/22