(BEDFORD, October 13, 2004) — On Monday, October 18, 2004 Senator John Sununu joined USDA Rural Development Administrator Hilda Legg and other dignitaries to announce the award of a $499,965 Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Distance Learning Grant to Southeastern Regional Education Service Center (SERESC) in Bedford, NH. The Federal grant will be used to expand videoconferencing capabilities in the Granite State. Nearly 12,000 of New Hampshire’s rural citizens and students will benefit from this grant. SERESC is a Professional Development Center, currently serving 12 school districts in the southeastern region of New Hampshire. The RUS Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program is specifically designed to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America through the use of advanced telecommunications technologies. The “Unite New Hampshire” project addresses a critical need for providing professional development and continuing education for teachers, as well as expanded educational, vocational and technical opportunities for students and community members.“Our vision is to move content, not people,” explains Dr. Antonio Paradis, SERESC’s Executive Director. “This grant, combined with the 2003 RUS Grant awarded to the Timberlane School District and other initiatives we continue to pursue, are helping us realize that vision. Collaboration is the key.”The project pairs four hub sites that have unique competencies, educational content and resources — SERESC, New Hampshire Public Television, Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center and School and Goffstown High School — with the Newport and Milton rural school districts. Through distance learning, the hubs will provide a broad range of classroom resources, professional development, advanced class offerings, and continuing education opportunities. The RUS funding will enable eight sites to be equipped with state-of-the-art Tandberg videoconferencing systems installed and maintained by ViewCommunicationsÒ. These units provide user-friendly distance learning capabilities to teachers, students and community members. The participating schools will have rooms specifically designated for the new equipment. The existing SERESC network infrastructure will be utilized to expand the benefits of this project.“Newport looks forward to the numerous opportunities that will be offered by accessing content from SERESC, New Hampshire Public Television, Crotched Mountain and Goffstown High School for distance learning,” said William J. Mealey, Superintendent of Schools for SAU #43. “This grant will bring us additional course content such as advanced placement classes, dual credit college and vocational classes, as well as professional development and enhanced training as required under the No Child Left Behind Act.” “Through the use of distance learning, students at Nute Middle/High School, Milton Elementary School and the community will have the opportunity to take a wider variety of courses and gain exposure to a greater array of content,” noted William P. Lander, Superintendent of SAU #64 (Milton and Wakefield).In 1999, Crotched Mountain began using interactive videoconferencing to extend clinical expertise to educators and health professionals in distant and isolated communities. “This grant will result in increased opportunities for community-based professionals and additional supports for students with special needs. By linking classrooms together we will be able to share curriculum, participate in national events, and provide valuable learning and social opportunities for children of all abilities,” said Donald L. Shumway, President of Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center and School.The Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center and School serves children with complex medical requirements whose needs cannot be met at home or by professionals in their local school or community.“New Hampshire Public Television is looking forward to supporting the ‘United New Hampshire’ project with rich media content and services,” noted Kelly Clark, NHPTV’s Director of Educational Services. Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, NHPTV is a leader in education and community outreach. NHPTV provides instructional services for 206,000 students from kindergarten through high school; offers Ready To Learn programs and services for children preschool to age 8, parents, and early education professionals; and provides professional development programs and advanced technology training for educators in New Hampshire and neighboring states. For more information, visit www.nhptv.org.USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. USDA Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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