Internet Needs

With schools shut down, many students are tackling a new skill - distance learning.

With schools shut down, many students are tackling a new skill - distance learning.

But in some places, the biggest assignment can be finding an internet connection..

Stephanie poole goes to noxubee county to find out how educators there are connecting to students..

She joins us in the studio with more.

Joey, for rural areas, it can be difficult to learn remotely and effectively.

So, noxubee county schools are working to set up wifi around the community for students who aren't able to do work from home.

" internet is a very important source that we need to get through some of the work that we have at school."

Reagan williams is a junior in high school.

As she begins tackling most of her homework online...she's concerned about her classmates who may have trouble accessing the internet away from school.

"not knowing if they're going to be able to finish their work or if they're going to be able to have a chance to put their best foot forward within their work.

Living in rural areas you don't always have service and things like that so it's harder for them to execute the best way they need to."

Karen dixon is the assistant principal of noxubee county high school.

She says teachers are working to provide options for students.

"they can pick up packets that each teacher or in each grade or department have provided for those students who may not have access to the internet or to the online services."

When it's time to complete assignments online, students can come to the school for service or the noxubee county transit.

" i knew we had a plan in place and we're continuing to work through our plan to make sure we are providing students what they will need to get online and complete the packet."

Many, including public service commissioner brandon presley, will tell you, the increased demand for students and workers trying to telecommute is highlighting an issue that has plagued many areas of the state áwell beforeá the coronavirus came along.

" we've been struggling an many rural people in the last couple weeks begin to close, so many workers are telecommunicate.

We are seeing in terms what this digital divide means to the people in mississippi.

Once we get through this crisis, and we're going to get through this crisis, we have to put together and have an effort like we never seen before to make sure we connect every home, every business and every industry in mississippi with internet service to we never get back in this mess again."

Noxubee county high school and transit system will continue to provide these services for students free of charge.

Stinger