COLORADO SPRINGS — Many of us are still adapting to being at home during a time like this, especially our kids, and if you don't have a strong internet connection remote learning can be all the more frustrating for struggling families.
A local software company is giving back to make sure kids aren't falling behind. Altia is a Colorado Springs software company that provides tech for brands like Jeep, Boeing, Panasonic, and others. The company decided to help collect enough money to donate about 500 hot spots to Harrison District 2.
"Students without internet access are at serious risk of falling behind, and that could have a short- and long-term impact on them and our community," said Altia CEO, Mike Juran.
So far Harrison District 2 has used up federal, state, and local aid, and private companies like Altia, Pikes Peak Community College, Keller Homes, and other foundations, have pitched in money, time and support. District 2 has been providing meals to kids, and have gotten them all laptops. They've also been able to use federal funding to set up remote learning classrooms.
The most pressing missing link is internet access. Many of the homes don't have access, or it is painfully inadequate to do remote learning. To fix this problem, the district needs 500 Wifi hotspots. The cost is $120,000 a year, and district 2 has exhausted all other resources to pay for them.
"Between all of us we raised over 100 thousand dollars within a few weeks and that enabled us to provide a year's worth of internet access for Harrison school district 2," Juran said.
