County, city schools to deploy wi-fi equipped buses in communities

DOUBLE SPRINGS - During the Winston County Board of Education's July 23, meeting, board members asked Winston County Schools Superintendent Greg Pendley a wide range of questions regarding reopening plans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pendley told board members that approximately 17 percent of parents throughout the school system have opted for their children to attend school virtually when the school year begins Aug. 12.  Parents will have a 7-day period after the school year begins to either opt to place their children back into a traditional setting, or to pull their children from a traditional setting and place them in a virtual setting.  After that 7-day period, children will be locked in to the mode of school chosen for the remainder of the 9-week grading period.

Pendley told board members that the transportation department will be equipping 12 buses with wi-fi that will be deployed throughout Winston County to serve as mobile hot spots for parents and students seeking high speed internet to perform school work virtually.   The cost for the project will be approximately $30,000.

While specific locations where the buses will be have not been finalized, the buses are expected to be in prominent, high traffic areas within the county's municipalities.  Three of the buses will be utilized by Haleyville City Schools.  Three buses will be placed within the Double Springs area, with two buses placed within Addison, two within Lynn and two within the Arley area.