A Project to Enhance Learning Using Broadband Techniques

1. PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education Department of Public Instruction PARTNERS Southwestern NC Planning & Economic Development Commission Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) Jackson County Schools Macon County Schools Clay County Schools Cherokee County Schools Graham County Schools Swain County Schools Cherokee Tribal Schools Southwestern Community College Western Carolina University Tri County Community College • WNC EdNET builds on prior visionary efforts of regional college, school and corporate leaders. • The WNC EdNET approach is collaborative and as such provides for a focus of resources in a rural, sparsely populated section of Southern Appalachia. A myriad of different players are working together rather than competing with each other in procurement and use of critical resources. • When complete, the project will permit area students to compete at or above par with their counterparts globally. In effect, learning opportunities not currently available or imagined will be accessible by the target students. A Project to Enhance Learning Using Broadband Techniques Funding Provided By WNC EdNET CONTACTS Dr. Jan Webster, Director Western Region Education Service Alliance PO Box 1709, Enka, NC 28728 Phone: 828 .418.0011, ext. 21 Email: jwebster@wresa.org Mr. Bill Gibson, Executive Director Southwestern Planning Commission 125 Bonnie Lane, Sylva, NC 28779 Phone: 828.586.1962 Email: bill@regiona.org For additional information visit the WRESA Website at www.wresa.org

2. Western North Carolina’s WNC EdNET: A Ring of Stars WNC EdNET: Project Summary Purpose To collaboratively assist the schools and colleges in Jackson, Macon, Clay, Cherokee, Graham and SwainCounties, and the Cherokee Tribal Schools to procure and use upgradeable high capacity broadband technology configurations and services to enhance learning, professional development, and organization administration, and to open up learning opportunities not currently available or imagined. Objectives 1) To establish a collaborative of partners for the purpose of collaboratively enhancing the development and use of technology as a tool for improving learning opportunities 2) To facilitate procurement of broadband infrastructure by participating partners’ central and field sites 3) To facilitate capacity building and use of broadband technology for the enhancement of teaching and learning 4) To help export the WNC EdNET model to other potential adopting sites. Funding The WNC Education Network is jointly funded by grant monies from the Golden LEAF Foundation, the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the NC Rural Economic Development Center, and the Business and Education Technology Alliance/Public Schools of North Carolina. These funds will be used mostly as start-up costs supporting Objective 2. Other resources will be sought to further implement and continue the project. Partnerships and Organization The project grantee is the Southwestern Commission which will partner with the Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) to collaboratively manage the grants. An Executive Steering Committee composed of the CEOs of the 12 partners plus a Golden LEAF representative govern the project. Partner Technology Coordinators are primarily responsible for implementing and helping to evaluate the program. A Technology Applications Committee provides leadership in use of high speed technologies and applications. Consulting Partners from other agencies and organizations such as ERC, e-NC Authority and NCDPI provide technical leadership and guidance. TN SC GA WNC EdNET: Partner Organizations - 70 Educational Sites Graham County Schools (GCS) Clay County Schools (Clay Schools) (CS) Jackson County Schools (JCS) Macon County Schools (MCS) Cherokee County Schools (CCS) Swain County Schools (SCS) Cherokee Central (Tribal) Schools (CTS) Implementation Partners Western Carolina University (WCU) Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Funding Agencies Appalachian Regional Commission Cherokee Preservation Foundation Golden Leaf Foundation NC Rural Center Business & Education Technology Alliance/Public Schools of North Carolina Tri County Community College (TCC) Southwestern NC Planning & Economic Development Commission (Southwestern Commission) Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA)