ESU 13 Receives $1 Million USDA Grant for Distance Learning

MIKE MOTZ

Sidney Sun-Telegraph

SCOTTSBLUFF--The prestigious USDA Rural Distance Learning Grant has been awarded to Educational Service Unit 13. This federal grant will enable significant upgrades to distance learning systems in the Nebraska Panhandle, enhancing educational access for students and communities in rural areas.

All 21 school districts in the ESU 13 area will benefit from the grant, which will fund cutting-edge video conferencing and interactive technology. The upgrades will include fully interactive Zoom Room classrooms and boardrooms, mobile Zoom cart systems to convert any classroom into a distance learning hub, and all-in-one camera conferencing bars for interactive whiteboards. These advancements will address needs such as:

Help with teacher shortages by enhancing teacher-sharing capabilities.

Enhance professional development opportunities for educators, counselors, and administrators.

Help control travel costs through virtual training and meetings.

Enable class-sharing and collaborative learning among students in multiple locations.

Standardize high-tech classrooms across the Panhandle.

The grant also extends to community partnerships, with mobile Zoom cart systems being distributed to Ft. Robinson State Park Museum, Chimney Park Visitor Center, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Audiences around the world will be able to share the rich history of western Nebraska with the help of park staff and these new tools.

Installation of most of this equipment is expected to be completed by summer of 2025, and these upgrades constitute a big step forward in educational equity and economic opportunity for the region.

Sidney Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Farber said of the grant award, “ESU #13 and their dedicated staff are integral to the success of our district and the entire Nebraska Panhandle. Their steadfast commitment to enhancing student achievement and delivering exceptional support is truly invaluable. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and their tireless service to Sidney Public Schools and the many districts they support. Together, we are shaping brighter futures for our students and communities.”