MERIDIAN, Idaho — Sparklight announced Wednesday morning they are helping improve student access to technology by donating Chromebooks to Meridian Elementary School.
The Senior Vice President of Technology Services at Sparklight, Ken Johnson, said donating Chromebooks to Title 1 schools will help bridge the digital divide in schools that lack funding. This is especially true for students who lack the technology needed to do schoolwork from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While many school systems are taking big steps and working to give every student and every teacher access to the technology and tools they need to learn, not all schools have the funding to support this effort,” Johnson said. “We understand how critical access to technology is right now – especially during the pandemic when many schools are struggling to provide laptops to students in need during the transition to online school.”
Meridian Elementary School Principal Debbie Aholt said that Sparklight’s Chromebook donation will allow students flexibility with learning and teachers the ability to continue to deliver instruction at high levels – whether online or in the classroom.
“Sparklight’s Chromebook donation will be useful both in the classroom and with distance learning - allowing students another tool to access high levels of learning whether in-person or remote,” Aholt said. “Our world is forever evolving, and these younger students are evolving with it. The future is full of unknowns and as educators, it is our job to help our students become life-long learners.”
Sparklight’s Meridian General Manager Cheryl Goettsche said that Sparklight is committed to strengthening and improving the Meridian community, not only through its products and services but through the support of the local community.
“We know that access to technology for every student is key during these unprecedented times, so we are thrilled to give back to Meridian Elementary and support our community with this donation,” Goettsche said.
Over the past seven years, Sparklight has donated more than 1,500 Chromebooks to Title 1 schools. Sparklight also recently donated $15,000 to Idaho Business for Education, in support of the “Close the Divide” initiative to buy Chromebooks for students in need across Idaho.
