For the Cumberland Times-NewsCumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — Gov. Martin O’Malley announced $5.5 million in grants to local boards of education recently, including $235,000 for Garrett County for the Digital Learning Innovation Award.
The funding is designed to increase the use of digital technology in education and to help students earn college credits and career certification while in high school.
“The purpose of the grant is to support the Telepresence project to provide the ability for students, teachers and professionals throughout Garrett County Public Schools and the world to synergize without the restraints of location or walls,” said State Superintendent of Schools Lillian Lowery at a news conference outside the Statehouse in Annapolis.
O’Malley and Lowery announced six grant winners under the Early College Innovation Fund and seven under the Digital Learning Innovation Fund.
Other school districts awarded were the SEED School of Maryland and Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Kent and Washington counties.
The Garrett County proposal will take advantage of the county’s new fiber connectivity between the schools and to the Internet.
“The grant will also provide for student computers at elementary schools still using older computer labs,” said Chuck Trautwein, Garrett’s computer resource teacher. “This technology will enable increased collaboration and sharing of resources between Garrett County schools.”
