COVID-19-UPDATE: Businesses, Organizations Donate to Digitally Connect Brevard Public Schools Students

Brevard Public Schools continue to seek pledges until all students in need are served

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Brevard Public Schools announced that schools will continue to be closed until at least May 4. Brevard Public Schools District 4 School Board member Matt Susin talks about the first day of remote learning as more than 70,000 students logged onto virtual distance learning today, and how plans for graduating students are being considered.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Community partners have answered the call to help Brevard Public Schools provide internet capabilities and devices to students from households that can’t afford them. 

As students across Brevard begin remote learning, more than $50,000 has been donated or formally pledged by business, nonprofit and faith organizations to ensure that all children can connect to teachers and lessons.

With that help, the school district so far purchased 2,200 hot spot devices and began distributing them on Wednesday, March 25.  The hot spots, which provide a year’s worth of internet access, cost about $140 each.

BPS continues to seek pledges until all students in need are served.

The largest commitments so far: $21,000 from Millennium Engineering & Integration Company; and $15,000 from Northrop Grumman Corp.

“We know many students face challenges getting access to tools and equipment for learning outside the classroom, and Northrop Grumman is proud to support funding for the comprehensive plan Brevard Public Schools developed so quickly to enable student success,” said Kirsten Dreggors, Vice President of Engineering and Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence Leader, Northrop Grumman Corp.

Organizations that have donated:

• Dr. Chad Reddick, orthodontist
• The Avenue Viera
• e-Angels
• Indian River United Methodist Church
• Jostens
• Lifestyle Homes
• State Farm Insurance agents Roger Parsons, Joe Raley, and Jeff Thummel
• The Viera Co. 

“I am proud to be able to support this program so that our students can continue to learn while being forced to be away from their schools,” said Chad Reddick, DDS, of Reddick Orthodontics.

“I hope this temporary setback will only make us more resilient.”

“Providing connectivity for virtual instruction is the only way to keep public education moving forward, while also protecting the health of students,” said Ryan Comparato, owner of Campus Supply of Florida – Jostens.

“No county can handle that task without significant help from the community,” said Michelle Reyes, marketing coordinator for The Avenue Viera.

“This pandemic has hit us hard, but we can’t expect our community to bounce back if any child is left behind. Donating to the student connectivity project was one concrete way we could help our kids, which in turn, will help us heal.”

Anyone interested in contributing to BPS’ student-connectivity effort can do so by check or online through the Brevard Schools Foundation, 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940.  Please write “student connectivity” in the memo field.

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

Similar Stories