Contact Information
Jamie Lane
ERVING Director
ervingnetwork@gmail.com
920-676-3017
Bowler School District awarded USDA grant funds as part of the NWECS-ERVING Collaborative Distance Learning Initiative
12/13/2023 – The Bowler School District will receive $23,898 for distance learning technology upgrades from a USDA Rural Development, Rural Utility Services Distance Learning and Telemedicine (RUS-DLT) grant. In total, two Wisconsin distance learning consortiums - Northern Wisconsin Educational Communications System (NWECS) and Embarrass River Valley Instructional Network Group (ERVING) – in partnership with Northwood Technical College have been awarded $999,480 to facilitate their $1.5 million NWECS-ERVING Collaborative Distance Learning Initiative. In addition, the ERVING Network will receive an additional $100,000 for content and curriculum. Bowler School District is taking part as a member of ERVING.
The initiative aims to replace outdated, end-of-life technology that impedes course delivery and to provide support for critical mental health telemedicine services across 30 rural school districts. The implementation of advanced distance learning technologies will enable Northwood Tech and both the NWECS and ERVING consortiums to further extend and enhance educational opportunities within the rural communities they serve.
Replacing the outdated equipment will improve class interaction between sites, as well as help eliminate class downtime due to technical difficulties. These updates and adding additional technology equipment in classrooms also increase the capacity for distance learning courses.
“The USDA Rural Development, Rural Utility Services Distance Learning and Telemedicine (RUS-DLT) Grant is an exciting opportunity for the Bowler School District to update technology resources for students to engage in distance learning. It also provides opportunities for our students to receive quality high-school and college education courses that may not otherwise be available to students in our district.“ said Glenda Butterfield-Boldig, Bowler School District Administrator.
Overall, the NWECS-ERVING Collaborative Distance Learning Initiative will equip 38 individual sites throughout Douglas, Ashland, Barron, St. Croix, Bayfield, Dodge, Florence, Marinette, Sawyer, Iron, Forest, Juneau, Taylor, Wood, Price, Waupaca, Shawano, and Portage counties with the latest interactive video distance learning equipment. K-12 students will have better access to high school credit, college credit, and enrichment programming.
For more information on the ERVING distance learning programming, please contact Jamie Lane.
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