Weekly Hot News Podcast, April 6, 2020

As we continue with supplementary and preparatory learning in advance of Distance Learning for All, which begins on Monday, April 13th, students’ need for devices and internet access increases by the day. Fortunately, we have options for getting them connected. As of Friday, April 3rd, schools had checked out more than 6,000 Chromebooks to students. If you still need a Chromebook, please contact your school to make arrangements. For wireless access, some families will be able to check out personal MiFi hotspots. By mid-April, the District should have 1,500 of these devices available and ready to deploy to students and staff who need them. Others may want to explore Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which provides two months of free internet access and then a low payment option of $9.95 per month for qualifying households. Yet another option includes finding and using WiFi hotspots in out-of-home locations. The City of Hillsboro has a number of open WiFi locations, as does Xfinity. Xfinity hotspots are free and available to anyone who needs them, including non-Xfinity Internet customers. Finally, many of our schools have a wireless signal that extends beyond their exterior walls. In the coming weeks, designated areas at schools with this availability will be marked with signs.