BORDERLINK TO SUCCESS

I T’S BEEN SAID THAT THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE. AND THEIR FUTURE LOOKS EVEN BRIGHTER, AS THE FLIP THE SWITCH EVENT WHICH HAPPENED LAST WEEK AT BRAWLEY UNION HIGH. IT KICKED OFF THE BORDERLINK PILOT PROGRAM THAT ENABLES STUDENTS INTERNET ACCESS, WHICH MOST IN THE COUNTY DIDN’T HAVE.

WHAT STARTED AS A DREAM, AT THE IMPERIAL COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION OFFICES, IS BECOMING A REALITY.

I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, TODD EVANGELIST, TO SEE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE STUDENTS OF THE IMPERIAL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED THAT CONNECTIVITY IN YOUR HOME, THERE’S A BIT OF A HOMEWORK GAP BETWEEN STUDENTS WHO DO HAVE CONNECTIVITY, AND OTHERS WHO DON’T. FLIPPING THE SWITCH, BORDERLINK, CLOSES THAT GAP. IT PROVIDES INTERNET ACTIVITY FOR THOSE STUDENTS. AMONG TO A CONNECTION TO ANOTHER AMOUNT OF AGENCIES. SCHOOLS CAN CHOOSE TO USE IT THROUGH CONNECTING THOSE STUDENTS.” WHAT THEY’VE ACCOMPLISHED IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK, THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT GOES BEYOND INTERNET ACCESS FOR JUST STUDENTS BUT COMMUNITIES IN RURAL AREAS AS WELL. LIKE MANY OTHER STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY WHO WERE WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS, ALYSSA BRAVO, ALREADY SEES A DIFFERENCE.

ALYSSA, WHO’S A SENIOR AT BRAWLEY UNION HIGH, IS ONE OF THE MANY STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED THE DEVICE THAT ENABLED THEM INTERNET ACCESSS.

SHE SAID, “I THINK IT’S GOING TO HELP OUT A LOT OF STUDENTS AND HELP THOSE PARENTS WHO CAN’T AFFORD INTERNET FOR THEIR STUDENTS. AND I THINK TEACHERS WILL BE MORE CONFIDENT WITH GIVING STUDENTS WORK NOW BECAUSE, THYE KNOW THEIR STUDENTS ARE ABLE GO ONLINE AND FINISH THEIR WORK, APPLY TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND APPLY TO UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT HASSEL BECAUSE OF THIS BORDERLINK PROJECT. SO PARENTS WON’T HAVE TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE INTERNET AT HOME.”

THANKS TO THE BORDERLINK PROGRAM, STUDENTS LIKE HER HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE OF APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.

WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM ONLY BEING IN PHASE ONE, THE VISION OF BORDERLINK, IS TO BE A COST RECOVERY BUSINESS MODEL, WITH ENABLER TECHNOLOGY TO GIVE KIDS AND COMMUNITIES INTERNET ACCESS NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTY BUT POSSIBLY STATEWIDE.

FURTHERMORE, THE PILOT WILL DETERMINE WHAT IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, PRODUCTIVITY AND THE AFFECTS ON ATTENDANCE.

SIMPLY PUT, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.