san patricio county technology consortium rus final report

							San Patricio County Technology Consortium
One Owl Square
Odem, Texas 78370
TX715-C16

Mr. Peter Aimable Engineering Branch Chief
Southern Division
USA Rural Development, Telecommunications Program
Room 2808 S. Agriculture Bldg., STOP 1597
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington DC 20250-1597

Final Report

Dear Sir,

We would like to thank the USA Rural Development program for their support in our current project to
expand distance learning experiences to the schools of the San Patricio County Consortium. At this time
we have completed the project and even though we know we have not spent the total amount of the
grant, we feel that we have met the goals we have set for the consortium. We also know that without
changing or expanding the extent of the grant, we will not be requiring additional funds.

Each school district is currently using C-SCOPE, a statewide electronic curriculum, for their core subject
matter areas. Along with raising the standard and expectation for the students, this program allows for
teacher to teacher collaboration on curriculum and strategies. The C-SCOPE curriculum along with the
investment in laptop computers with integrated video camera and free video compression software; we
have students not only working in small groups but also communicating with each other students, their
teachers and other classrooms through personal video conference. With each school’s participation in
the Costal Bend Telecommunication Network we have been able to provide quality real time education
for students. All districts have provided Dual credit classes to students saving the parents from the
financial burden of a few college classes. The grant has also allowed one school district to establish an
International Education program.




Ron Squires
Technology Director
Odem-Edroy I.S.D.