Alachua County Public School buses now equipped with free Wi-Fi
Press release from Alachua County Public Schools
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Public School students who ride a district bus will now have access to free Wi-Fi while on the bus.
Through the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), which was established to expand internet access for students, the district was able to equip all 125 of the buses in regular operation with a Wi-Fi connection. Students on buses will be able to connect to the Internet through a district network, which filters for inappropriate websites and social media.
The Wi-Fi connection on the buses will be active at least through September, including during the summer. There is also a possibility the funding will be extended beyond that time.
Email, phone, and text messages with instructions on how to access the bus Wi-Fi have already been sent to the families of the district’s bus riders.Â
Students must follow the same rules for technology use that are in effect at school and school-related activities. Those rules can be found in the district’s Code of Student Conduct, which is posted at https://fl02219191.schoolwires.net/Page/3665.
The ECF also funded the free internet-connected laptops the district has been distributing to ACPS families throughout this school year. Nearly 6,000 have already gone out. Families can still request one by contacting their child’s school. If that school does not have any devices left, ACPS families can send an email to ecfsupport@gm.sbac.edu to request one.
From the FCC webpage: “The Emergency Connectivity Fund is a $7.171 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help schools and libraries support remote learning.” (https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund-faqs)
I am all for helping families that cannot afford laptops and internet access at home for their children as long as it is used for its intended purpose.
Here we are, 2+ years after Biden became the Spender in Chief, and Democratic cities (and counties) are still buying votes with taxpayer money! Internet on school buses? Really?
ACPS School Board cannot provide a safe school environment in the school, and don’t know how to deal with the violence, and poor subject matter performance, but they can sure waste money on vote buying for the next election! “Citizens, don’t forget I gave your child internet access on their school bus! Vote for me!” One guess which board member uses “Citizen” to address those in the cheap seats at board meetings!
At working tax payers expense.
Will this help the busses run on time?
Just what kids need, more screen time. What happened to just talking to your friends or just sitting there?
Yeah the last thing they need is more screen time.
Go figure.