Patrick Administration Announces $5 Million In
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Department Executive Office of Education Press Release Contact: Liz Meagher Cooper – 617-979-8351 Follow us on Twitter – View our Photos PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $5 MILLION IN SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY GRANTS Grants will give students more access to digital learning by strengthening school districts’ technology infrastructures BOSTON – January 6, 2015 — The Patrick Administration today announced that 14 school districts have been selected to receive a total of $5 million in grants for technology infrastructure that will strengthen digital learning at 47 schools in communities across the Commonwealth. The grants to these schools, which include 13 rural schools, 16 suburban schools and 18 urban schools, will impact nearly 25,000 students. “Technology is essential in preparing our students for success in the 21st century,” said Secretary of Education Matthew Malone. “The opportunities these students will receive due to these grants will put them at a great advantage when they are preparing for college and the workforce demands of the future.” Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process. The Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant is a matching state grant program that will help public schools strengthen 21st-century teaching and learning through the use of technology such as Wi-Fi and increased broadband access. "I am thrilled that the state is able to help make better technology available to students and teachers," said Mitchell D. Chester, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. "The ability to use technology and harness resources from around the world will broaden students' horizons and make them stronger scholars, citizens, and, eventually, members of the workforce." “Through an unprecedented level of collaboration, education, policy, and technology leaders from across state government are actively engaged with local officials to bridge the digital divide that exists in some schools across the Commonwealth,” said Bill Oates, Commonwealth Chief Information Officer. “By helping schools gain the connectivity they need, we help ensure that teachers and students can benefit from the wealth of teaching and learning opportunities now available through technology. Financed by the technology bond bill passed last summer and administered by the Executive Office of Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Office of Municipal & Schools Technology, the grant program provides $38 million in matching funds for K-12 technology infrastructure. Governor Patrick authorized release of the first $5 million of the grant funds to pilot the program in the 2014-15 school year. Based upon each community’s ability to pay, the state will fund between 30 and 70 percent of each district’s project costs. While the state money must be used for infrastructure, the local matching funds may be used for devices. The designated recipients of the Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant are: Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, Rochester - $90,000 Ralph C. Mahar Regional School, Orange - $70,000 Lawrence Middle School, Falmouth - $200,000 East Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth - $50,000 Morse Pond School, Falmouth - $90,000 Mullen-Hall School, Falmouth - $90,000 North Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth - $60,000 Teaticket Elementary School, Falmouth - $70,000 Lanesborough Elementary School, Lanesborough - $70,000 Chester Elementary School, Chester - $30,000 Gateway Regional Junior High School, Huntington - $50,000 Littleville Elementary School, Huntington - $50,000 Millis Middle School and Millis High School, Millis - $110,000 Braintree High School, Braintree - $470,000 East Middle School, Braintree - $200,000 Hollis School, Braintree - $110,000 South Middle School, Braintree - $120,000 Archie T. Morrison School, Braintree - $30,000 Donald Ross School, Braintree - $30,000 Highlands School, Braintree - $90,000 Liberty School, Braintree - $90,000 Mary E. Flaherty School, Braintree - $90,000 Rochester Memorial School, Rochester - $20,000 Sippican School, Marion - $10,000 Center School, Mattapoisett - $10,000 Old Hammondtown School, Mattapoisett - $10,000 Old Rochester Regional High School, Mattapoisett - $10,000 Mill Pond School, Westborough - $220,000 B.F. Butler Middle School, Lowell - $130,000 Bartlett Community Partnership School, Lowell - $120,000 Dr. An Wang School, Lowell - $130,000 Henry J. Robinson Middle School, Lowell - $170,000 James S. Daley Middle School, Lowell - $120,000 Kathryn P. Soklosa Middle School, Lowell – $130,000 James Sullivan Middle School, Lowell - $100,000 Pyne Arts School, Lowell - $90,000 West Springfield Middle School, West Springfield - $180,000 George F. Kelly Elementary School, Chelsea - $170,000 Chelsea High School, Chelsea - $30,000 Joseph A Browne School, Chelsea - $30,000 Elm Street School, Gardner - $70,000 Gardner High School, Gardner - $80,000 Gardner Middle School, Gardner - $80,000 Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology, Gardner - $30,000 Helen Mae Sauter Elementary School, Gardner - $40,000 Greenfield Middle School, Greenfield - $130,000 More information about the Digital Connections Partnership Schools Grant is available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/odl/grants/DigitalConnections.html. About MassIT and the Office of Municipal & School Technology: The Massachusetts Office of Information Technology, known as MassIT, is the Commonwealth’s lead state agency for technology and innovation across the Executive Branch. Led by the Commonwealth Chief Information Officer, MassIT leverages technology and innovation to support, enable, and transform the operation of state government and delivery of services to constituents. Within MassIT, the Office of Municipal & School Technology supports local governments by leveraging the Commonwealth’s technology resources, sharing best practices, and efficiently creating new resources together. ### .