Gaylord schools have turned their parking lot into a wifi hotspot for students to download homework during the coronavirus shutdown.
Many school districts in Michigan have struggled to connect students without internet access to ongoing instruction during the school shutdown.
Brian Pearson is the Superintendent of Gaylord Community Schools. He said his district provided devices to students to help with internet access.
“And then we said how can we move our hotspots that are in the buildings out to parking lots where our students or parents can drive in, download the lesson, and then put it back up.”
Gaylord’s E-Free Church, the local public library, and Gaylord schools have all become “hotspot” locations where students can access the internet from the parking lot.
Students will be able to download their homework for the week and then return to a hotspot location to upload it when they are finished.
Pearson said the school polled students and found some 400 didn’t have any way to access the internet at home. The school acted quickly to provide devices and set up hotpots.
“That’s key in this, is having a community that’s willing to step up and help. It’s been a community effort to take care of everyone in Otsego County.”
Pearson believes there will be problems - that the system won’t work perfectly and could require troubleshooting.
But he said the district will work with students to get them access to schoolwork.