WEST JEFFERSON, N.C.—SkyLine Membership Corporation has announced grant awards to area public school systems that support student access to technology in the classroom. Through the SkyLine Technology Education Grant Program, the cooperative has designated a total of $55,000 to be distributed among county school systems in the cooperative's five-county service area. This year's grant awards will go toward the purchase of SMART Board™ interactive white boards for area schools.

The grant awards were announced to area school system officials during a special program at SkyLine's corporate offices in West Jefferson on May 20.

"As a local telecommunications cooperative, SkyLine has long recognized the value of technology to our members and the important role public education plays in our communities," said Dixon. "On behalf of our board and staff, we are pleased to continue with this grant funding toward technology in the schools for the third consecutive year," said Dixon.

SkyLine's overriding goal in this program is to have a broad, positive impact in the area of technology with area public schools. Dixon announced the following awards to the five county school systems where the cooperative serves: Alleghany County Schools will receive $9,000; Ashe County Schools will receive $18,500; Avery County Schools will receive $9,000; Watauga County Schools will receive $13,500; and Johnson County Schools will receive $5,000.

Funding was based on the percentage of members in each of the five counties that SkyLine serves. County school systems' technology directors will work with area school technology staff to determine where the SMART Boards will be placed, with emphasis placed on those schools located in SkyLine's service area or schools located in other areas in the county where children of SkyLine members would matriculate. SkyLine will work with area school systems and Smarter Systems, an authorized dealer, to purchase the SMART Board equipment.

An interactive whiteboard system comprises three pieces of technology linked together—a computer, a digital projector and the interactive whiteboard itself. It is a combination large display panel and input device about the size of a standard dry-erase board. Information from the computer is displayed by the projector onto the touch-sensitive whiteboard, which essentially functions as a monitor. To operate an interactive whiteboard, you simply touch the panel using your finger or a stylus, similar to the way you use your mouse on your computer. You can control applications, navigate the Web and write over applications, Web sites and digital videos in digital ink.

Research shows that in addition to their ability to accommodate different learning styles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic), interactive white boards have a positive effect on student engagement, motivation, retention and review. Furthermore, interactive whiteboards benefit teachers by helping them streamline lesson planning and delivery.

Since this grant program was first announced in 2006, SkyLine officials acknowledged that subsequent efforts by other local businesses, school boards and county government have helped to purchase additional SMART Boards.

Another goal this program is to make the entire grant process as seamless as possible for area schools, according to Karen Powell, SkyLine Public Relations Director, who administers the grant program. "This is a collaborative effort between SkyLine, Smarter Systems and area public schools, and we will provide support from the time grants are awarded until the students use the SMART Board for the very first time. The grants include the purchase and installation of equipment as well introductory and advanced training sessions for area teachers," she said. Each SMART Board package is designed to include the interactive whiteboard, projector, a combination DVD/VHS player, wall-mounted speakers and an amplifier.

SkyLine is a member-owned cooperative, providing a variety of telecommunications services to its members in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties in North Carolina, and Johnson County in east Tennessee. Along with its current focus of building a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network, SkyLine is committed to enhancing the quality of life across the region through various charitable, educational and economic development programs. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, SkyBest Communications, offers de-regulated products and services, including local calling services, business systems and networking solutions, broadband Internet services and long-distance.