DeKalb Schools: Grant nets district nearly $4M for digital equipment

The DeKalb County School District was awarded nearly $4 million in digital learning grant funding as part of a disbursement of federal school improvement funds, officials said Tuesday.

The district said in a statement that several schools will split the approximately $3,836,800 to purchase devices, WiFi hot spots and instructional software programs for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. A list on the Georgia Department of Education website suggests funds have been awarded to purchase equipment at elementary, middle and high schools.

Approximately $21,578,236 was awarded to 55 school districts across the state to help fill gaps in the distance learning infrastructure, according to a Georgia Department of Education press release.

“The 'digital divide' in Georgia is not a new issue, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more apparent," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “School districts have done incredible work during the COVID-19 school closures and have been hard-working, creative, and thoughtful with the resources they have.”

The schools receiving funding are as follows:

Allgood Elementary School $118,800.00

Clarkston High School $294,400.00

Columbia High School $171,000.00

Cross Keys High School $328,800.00

DeKalb Alternative School $36,400.00

Elizabeth Andrews High School $82,200.00

Fairington Elementary School $119,200.00

Flat Rock Elementary School $206,600.00

Flat Shoals Elementary School $102,000.00

Marbut Elementary School $121,000.00

Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School $158,800.00