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Eastside School to Benefit from Sprint Donation
Eastside School to Benefit from Sprint Donation
Published 06-05-01
Submitted by Non Profile
Sprint (NYSE: FON, PCS) today announced the donation of its broadband fixed wireless service, Sprint Broadband DirectSM, to Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto, Calif.
In addition, Sprint PCS donated wireless phones and service to the school for use by teachers in the classroom.
"Sprint really came to our rescue," said Eastside Principal Chris Bischof.
"We found ourselves disconnected from our previous Internet provider with short notice, and Sprint completed installation of all the computers on campus and had us running within a few days. The Sprint PCS phones will be great in the classroom because they will allow parents to have easier access to teachers when they have questions about their child's progress."
Installation of Sprint Broadband Direct doesn't require complicated telephone or cable line upgrades, which has made it possible to install the computer lab with high-speed Internet service quickly.
Sprint also realized that Eastside needed updated computer equipment so the Internet connection could operate at optimum speed, so Sprint also made a donation to the school for the purchase of new equipment.
Eastside is an independent, non-profit high school offering a community-based alternative to students from East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park who want to complete high school and continue on to four-year colleges and universities.
The school serves academically motivated high school students from these low-income, minority communities of which sixty-five percent of secondary students currently drop out of school.
"It's critical for our students to have Internet access at school. Many students don't have computers at home, so they make full use of the computers and Internet on campus to complete research and homework," said Bischof.
"Because all of our students are preparing to attend college they need to research colleges and scholarship opportunities, and the Internet makes it easier for them to find this information."
Through its Education Connection Program, Sprint PCS will donate 15 wireless phones and free airtime to the school.
"The Education Connection Program is a perfect example of how both modern technology and assistance from private companies can benefit our city's public and private schools. Technology in the classroom has proven to substantially improve teachers' abilities to instruct and enhance students' learning environments," said Bill Brevoort, area vice president, Sprint PCS.
"With Sprint PCS Wireless Web, teachers will be able to access the Internet, instant messaging and have the ability to check email in and outside the classroom."
Teachers involved with the Education Connection program nationwide indicate the phones have been instrumental in increasing parental involvement in the education process, with many teachers reporting a 100 percent improvement in communication with parents.
The phones have also been vital in some recent emergency situations including health crises, power and landline phone outages and student discipline problems.
"We are committed to supporting the communities we serve," said Todd Rowley, vice president of spectrum management and business development for Sprint Broadband Direct.
"This is an area where we recognized the need and we're doing everything we can to help their students. We will continue to work with other local organizations to help equip children with Sprint products like Sprint Broadband Direct and allow them to experience all the benefits of the latest technology available today."
About Sprint
Sprint is a world-class global communications company - at the forefront of integrating wireline and wireless communications services. Sprint is a large carrier of Internet traffic and a leader in broadband communications. The company built and operates the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and provides a portfolio of advanced data communications services. It operates the largest 100-percent digital, 100-percent nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint has $23 billion in annual revenues and serves more than 23 million business and residential customers.
