WNC EdNET Project Summary

Purpose
To collaboratively assist the schools and colleges in Jackson, Macon, Clay, Cherokee, Graham and Swain Counties, and the Cherokee Tribal Schools to procure and use upgradeable high capacity broadband technology configurations and services to enhance learning, professional development, and organization administration, and to open up learning opportunities not currently available or imagined.
Objectives
1) To establish a collaborative of partners for the purpose of collaboratively enhancing the development and use of technology as a tool for improving learning opportunities
2) To facilitate procurement of broadband infrastructure by participating partners’ central and field sites
3) To facilitate capacity building and use of broadband technology for the enhancement of teaching and learning
4) To help export the WNC EdNET model to other potential adopting sites.
Funding
The WNC Education Network is jointly funded by grant monies from the Golden LEAF Foundation the Cherokee Preservation Foundation and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).  These funds will be used mostly as start-up cost supporting Objective 2.  Other resources will be sought to further implement and continue the project.

Funding Timeline

November 2005 Golden LEAF Foundation: $2,000,000.00

November 2005 Cherokee Preservation Foundation: $1,000,000.00

June 2006 Appalachian Regional Commission: $547,500.00

November 2006 Cherokee Preservation Foundation Graham County Underground Supplement: $700,000.00*

November 2006 NC Rural Development Center: $40,000.00*

May 2007 NC BETA Project: $621,000.00

 

* These grants do not expand the program. Their sole purpose is to alter the deployment of fiber in Graham County from the originally proposed aerial to buried underground deployment.

Partnerships and Organization
The project grantee is the Southwestern Commission which will partner with the Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) to collaboratively manage the grants.  An Executive Steering Committee composed of the CEOs of the 12 partners plus a Golden LEAF representative govern the project.  Partner Technology Coordinators are primarily responsible for implementing and helping to evaluate the program.  A Technology Applications Committee  provides leadership in use of high speed technologies and applications. Consulting Partners from other agencies and organizations such as ERC, e-NC Authority and NCDPI provide technical leadership and guidance.