ESU 13 Awarded $1 Million USDA Grant to Transform Distance Learning Across Western Nebraska
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Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 12-05-24 ⎯ Educational Service Unit 13 (ESU13) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a prestigious USDA Rural Development Distance Learning Grant. This federal grant, totaling over $1 million, will enable significant upgrades to distance learning systems throughout the Nebraska Panhandle, enhancing educational access for students and communities in rural areas.
"This grant is a game-changer for education in western Nebraska," said BJ Peters
ESU 13 Director of Technology, Distance Learning, and Media. "It allows us to connect students, teachers, and communities in ways that were previously unattainable, ensuring that geographic location is no barrier to opportunity."
The grant will fund cutting-edge video conferencing and interactive technology for all 21 school districts in the ESU13 service area. Equipment upgrades 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:
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Address teacher shortages by enhancing teacher-sharing capabilities.
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Provide professional development opportunities for educators, administrators, and counselors.
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Reduce travel costs through virtual meetings and training.
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Facilitate class-sharing and collaborative learning among students in multiple locations.
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Make high-tech classrooms the standard across the Panhandle.
Dr. Travis Miller, Superintendent of Hemingford Public Schools, highlighted the significance of this upgrade:
“I am thrilled that this grant funding will help ensure that the next generation of students in Western Nebraska will continue to have access to the high-quality and diverse learning opportunities available through the Western Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium (WNDLC),” said Dr. Miller. “The WNDLC connects rural students to a wide range of educational resources. I deeply appreciate the work done by BJ Peters and his team to advocate for opportunities for our students, staff, and communities here in Western Nebraska.”
Beyond schools, the grant extends to community partnerships. Mobile Zoom cart systems will be provided to Ft. Robinson State Park Museum, Chimney Park Visitor Center, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. These tools will enable park staff to virtually share the rich history of western Nebraska with audiences around the world.
Most of the equipment is expected to be installed by summer 2025, marking a significant step forward in educational equity and economic opportunity for the region.
For more information about this grant or ESU13’s distance learning initiatives, contact BJ Peters at (308) 635-3696 or bpeters@esu13.org.