USD awarded $300,000 K-12 Broadband Grant

USD awarded $300,000 K-12 Broadband Grant
Posted on 10/12/2020
This is the image for the news article titled USD awarded $300,000 K-12 Broadband GrantThe Uintah School District has been awarded a $300,000 grant to provide broadband internet access for students enrolled in district programs who do not otherwise have broadband internet at home or do not have adequate broadband internet speeds at home.

“With our blended learning model in place, home access to broadband internet connectivity has never been more important for our students,” Uintah School District Superintendent Rick Woodford said.

“Many of our students’ families cannot afford to pay for broadband service,” the superintendent said. “The broadband access grant will provide our families who qualify with broadband service, allowing their students to access their blended learning curriculum and lessons at home.”

The grant is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding received by the state of Utah. The district will use the funding it received to help families who:

1. do not have broadband service in their household as of Oct. 1, 2020, or do not have adequate broadband speeds, and

2. meet federal criteria for free and reduced lunch.


The broadband connection provided through this grant is not permanent. Currently, it is only for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Families cannot cancel or downgrade their existing broadband service to qualify for the grant; however, families can apply for free or reduced lunch at any time.

Under the grant, broadband service will be provided by STRATA Networks, which will work on a case-by-case basis with qualifying families to determine which broadband options are available where they live.

“We're going to do as much good with this money as we can,” Woodford said. “This is not designed to be a welfare type program; it is designed to ensure that students have access to education.”

Internet access provided through this grant will be filtered to meet content guidelines approved by the Uintah School District. Attempts to bypass filtering may result in termination of services.

If you currently have internet access in your household, please determine your connection speed by performing a speed test found at http://speedtest.uen.net before submitting your application. You will be asked to provide your download and upload speed as part of the application process if you already have broadband service.

To apply for this grant, please complete this form www.surveymonkey.com/r/VRBRBLR. A paper copy of the application is also available in all school offices and at the district office.
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No district employee or student shall be subjected to discrimination in employment or any district program or activity on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The district is committed to providing equal access and equal opportunity in its programs, services and employment including its policies, complaint processes, program accessibility, district facility use, accommodations and other Equal Employment Opportunity matters. The district also provides equal access to district facilities for all youth groups. The following persons have been designated as Title IX coordinators to handle inquires and complaints regarding unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation: Dr. Mistalyn Leis, Human Resources Director (435) 781-3100. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, Denver, CO, at (303) 844-5695.