For immediate release
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Contact: Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115
Baker-Polito Administration Announces $3.8 million for School Wi-Fi Technology Grants
BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that 27 school districts have been selected to receive a total of at least $3.8 million in state grants for technology infrastructure that will strengthen digital learning at 79 schools across the Commonwealth. The fiscal 2018 and 2019 grants to these schools, which include 30 rural schools, 17 suburban schools and 32 urban schools, will be combined with nearly $2 million in additional local funds and impact more than 39,000 students.
“Improving technology infrastructure in schools across the Commonwealth will help ensure students continue to receive the educational experiences they need to be successful,” Governor Charlie Baker said. “These grants will help make classrooms more engaging for thousands of Massachusetts students.”
“Digital learning is increasingly a part of students’ overall academic experience, both in secondary and post-secondary education, so these grants are a crucial opportunity for school districts to bring their technology up to the latest standards to ensure all students in the Commonwealth gain the necessary skills and knowledge to compete in our 21st century economy,” Education Secretary James Peyser said.
“While some schools, especially those in newer buildings, have considerable technology, we know that others have struggled to add infrastructure,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said. “These grants will help with that work and will result in students and teachers having better access to educational tools and materials.”
“Technology continues to be an increasingly critical ingredient to student success” said Curt Wood, secretary of the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS). “Today’s announcement reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to equipping Commonwealth teachers, educators, and most importantly, students with the connectivity and digital tools they need to thrive inside and outside of the classroom.”
“Digital Connections is a great example of a capital program that leverages both state and federal funding to maximize the Commonwealth’s investments,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. “The matching grant program has led to tremendous progress in ensuring that Massachusetts public schools are equipped with up-to-date Wi-Fi technology to enhance digital learning.”
The Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant is a matching state grant program that helps public schools strengthen 21st-century teaching and learning through the use of technology such as Wi-Fi and increased broadband access. Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process.
Administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Municipal and School Technology at EOTSS, the program provides state funds to increase the discounts communities receive from E-rate, a federal program that provides technology discounts to schools and libraries.
The recipients of the Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant are:
District Name
School Name
State Grant Amount
Amesbury
Amesbury Elementary School
$58,782.63
Amesbury
Amesbury High School
$113,523.26
Amesbury
Amesbury Innovation High School
$18,749.25
Amesbury
Amesbury Middle School
$100,387.42
Amesbury
Charles C. Cashman Elementary School
$37,351.93
Belchertown
Chestnut Hill Community School
$3,385.00
Belchertown
Jabish Brook Middle School
$17,661.64
Belchertown
Swift River Elementary School
$24,601.14
Chelmsford
Byam Elementary School
$144,831.00
Chelmsford
Chelmsford High School
$394,662.00
Chelmsford
South Row Elementary School
$94,452.00
Chelsea
Shurtleff Early Childhood
$90,851.78
Dighton-Rehoboth
Dighton Elementary School
$36,494.00
Dighton-Rehoboth
Dighton Middle School
$51,026.00
Dighton-Rehoboth
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School
$99,250.00
Dighton-Rehoboth
Dorothy L. Beckwith Middle School
$59,026.00
Dighton-Rehoboth
Palmer River Elementary School
$45,262.00
Gill-Montague
Gill Elementary School
$1,641.14
Gill-Montague
Great Falls Middle School
$45,122.92
Gill-Montague
Hillcrest Elementary School
$26,683.03
Gill-Montague
Sheffield Elementary School
$18,525.14
Gill-Montague
Turners Falls High School
$45,122.92
Groton-Dunstable
Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School
$151,223.25
Groton-Dunstable
Swallow/Union School
$51,599.25
Hancock
Hancock Elementary School
$15,951.05
Hopedale
Park Street School
$24,284.83
Lawrence
High School Learning Center
$32,106.17
Lawrence
Rollins Early Childhood Center
$10,808.44
Lawrence
School for Exceptional Studies
$32,198.38
Lawrence
School for Exceptional Studies at the Bruce Annex
$5,371.48
Leominster
Fall Brook Elementary School
$105,929.72
Leominster
Frances Drake School
$102,942.10
Leominster
Johnny Appleseed Elementary School
$96,109.32
Leominster
Northwest Elementary School
$95,485.04
Leominster
Priest Street School
$34,676.46
Leverett
Leverett Elementary School
$10,756.00
Medway
Medway High School
$9,292.50
Medway
Medway Middle School
$46,512.50
Nashoba Valley Technical
Nashoba Valley Technical High School
$115,359.31
North Adams
Brayton Elementary School
$43,281.00
North Adams
Greylock Elementary School
$120,463.64
North Attleborough
Amvet Boulevard School
$23,326.75
North Attleborough
Community Elementary School
$30,498.24
North Attleborough
Falls Elementary School
$16,457.19
North Attleborough
Joseph W. Martin Jr. Elementary School
$33,770.52
North Attleborough
North Attleborough High School
$37,640.87
North Attleborough
North Attleborough Early Learning Center
$10,980.70
North Attleborough
North Attleborough Middle School
$64,977.18
North Attleborough
Roosevelt Avenue Elementary School
$20,863.33
Northampton
Bridge Street Elementary School
$25,324.22
Northampton
Jackson Street Elementary School
$17,938.82
Northampton
John F. Kennedy Middle School
$58,112.30
Northampton
Leeds Elementary School
$12,382.52
Northampton
Northampton High School
$11,113.10
Northampton
R. K. Finn Ryan Road Elementary School
$33,307.46
Norwood
Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School
$20,690.10
Norwood
Norwood High School
$145,685.20
Old Rochester
Old Rochester Regional Jr. High School
$100,411.00
Sandwich
Forestdale School
$122,875.15
Southwick-Tolland-Granville
Powder Mill School
$63,044.73
Southwick-Tolland-Granville
Southwick Regional School
$57,254.05
Southwick-Tolland-Granville
Woodland School
$107,869.40
Triton
Newbury Elementary School
$46,268.18
Triton
Salisbury Elementary School
$55,467.14
Triton
Triton Regional High School
$65,143.76
Triton
Triton Regional Middle School
$65,143.76
Wachusett
Wachusett Regional High School
$73,292.78
Wareham
Wareham Middle School
$90,245.76
Wareham
Wareham Senior High School
$97,335.86
In addition, money has already been allocated for the following districts in fiscal 2019: Bellingham (six schools), King Philip (two schools) and Northbridge (two schools).
About EOTSS and the Office of Municipal and School Technology:
The Executive Office of Technology Services and Security is the state's lead agency for technology and innovation. Its mission is to provide secure and quality digital information, services, and tools to customers and constituents when and where they need them. In support of that mission, teams across EOTSS partner with colleagues at both the state and local level on a wide range of business areas. Within EOTSS, the Office of Municipal and School Technology supports local governments by leveraging the Commonwealth’s technology resources, sharing best practices, and efficiently creating new resources together.
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