District now features fiber connection

Crystal R. Albers
Posted 12/14/18

Calling it a “landmark week” during a technology and connectivity update at the Goshen County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday

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District now features fiber connection

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GOSHEN COUNTY – Calling it a “landmark week” during a technology and connectivity update at the Goshen County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, Technology Director Bryan Foster said the district now has a fiber connection between its main office building and Eastern Wyoming College.

“All of our schools aggregate here and go up there,” he said. “That means instead of us using a wireless link, we have something that’s going to be stable in snowstorms, and our bandwidth will not deteriorate when it rains.”

Foster also spoke of the importance of digital citizenship, and his goal to ensure one-to-one computing among students in Goshen County.

While the district currently has more computers than students, many of the devices are in labs and set aside for testing, he explained.

In the near future, Foster said his department will work to determine how to deploy the machines so students have access, while taking into account need and safe usage.

On a related note, later in the meeting, trustees approved the purchase of 200 student laptops from Sterling Computers in the amount of $146,206, as funded through the general fund technology budget.

In other business:

n Newly reelected members Mark Jespersen and Katherine Patrick took the Oath of Office. Reelected trustee Zach Miller and new member Kerry Bullington were sworn in at a special meeting last month.

n The board elected Patrick as chairman; Christine Miller as vice-chairman; Jespersen, clerk; and Zach Miller, treasurer. Patrick thanked member Carlos Saucedo for his service as board chairman – a position he held since former Chairman Charlie Harshberger’s resignation earlier this year.

n During board discussion, Zach Miller expressed a desire to develop a Gifted and Talented program in Goshen County. Several board members, along with Superintendent Jean Chrostoski, agreed with Miller regarding the need for a full program in the district.

n The next meeting is rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 15 – originally to be held on Jan. 8 – at 7 p.m. in the Central Administration Building to allow for administrative staff to spend holiday break with their families.

n For a full agenda, visit www.goshen1.org and click the Board of Trustees tab.