Many Illinois rural school districts need help securing technology funding, leaving students without reliable internet access. At ISTELive 24, Justin Morgan of Trico Community Unit School District 176 and Melinda Fiscus from the Learning Technology Center of Illinois shared how they tackled this challenge through creative funding strategies and local partnerships.
Trico School District, located in southern Illinois, faces numerous obstacles, from limited high-speed internet access due to its proximity to a national forest to a small annual technology budget of $85,000. Despite these hurdles, Morgan has leveraged federal E-Rate funding and support from Superintendent Larry Lovel to upgrade the school’s network infrastructure and implement a one-to-one device program before the pandemic.
When COVID-19 highlighted connectivity gaps, Morgan collaborated with local internet service providers to establish hotspots in the six towns his district serves. Although not all students could access these locations, the initiative demonstrated the power of community collaboration in overcoming barriers.
In addition to local efforts, state-level support played a crucial role. Fiscus connected the district with a state digital equity grant that provided students with free hotspots, compensating for unexpected fees associated with federal programs. Morgan and Fiscus are pushing for further expansion of E-Rate funding to cover home connectivity in rural districts.
Through federal programs, state grants, and partnerships with local businesses, Trico and other Illinois schools are finding innovative ways to keep their students connected and bridge the digital divide.