In Southeast Ohio, many kids can’t access the internet, period
Still others could not participate because they did not have any internet access. This difference in physical access creates a distinct barrier between students in Southeast Ohio and those living in bigger cities. Here, our issue is most certainly one of physical access — regardless of whether a customer can afford to pay for the internet or not. Districts throughout Southeast Ohio can be nimble and flexible in reacting to situations when families cannot afford to pay for coverage, have access to devices or have the technology knowledge to work efficiently.
What districts throughout our region cannot do is to build infrastructure. I plead with our state and our federal government to help to bridge this physical access divide.
As a principal in Meigs County, I know firsthand the troubles our children experienced while out of the classroom. The children in our district who lack adequate access to the internet at home — likely a majority, my district believes — were unable to access the full learning experience they deserve and that we are responsible to provide. Even more troubling is the number of children with whom our district lost contact during these months out of the classroom.
Many children and families have fallen off the grid and cannot be reached, likely due to lack of internet and even consistent cellphone coverage telephone access. As an educator and mother who raised a son in Southeast Ohio, this worries me the most. What have these children been dealing with since leaving school in March, and how will they rejoin the classroom setting when the time comes? These children will be now battling more than just the “Summer Slide.” These children will now be battling the “COVID Slide” — magnified by the “Summer Slide.”
In the unfortunate event that children are out of school again in the fall or attending on a blended schedule, it will be of utmost importance that Ohio address its inadequate broadband infrastructure in Southeast Ohio, along with the cost of access issues highlighted by the aforementioned article.
In the short term, the state should consider using federal dollars to help school districts provide hotspots around communities and perhaps directly to families to minimize the digital divide between our children in Appalachia and other children throughout the state.
In the long term, Ohio should advocate for and help shape federally-supported high-speed broadband internet buildout for regions like Southeast Ohio. Any program, out of Columbus or Washington, must ensure equitable advancement of internet access to overcome barriers of physical access and of affordability. The government cannot leave the kids of Southeast Ohio behind.
The response to these issues must be innovative and bold, as recommended by leaders across Southeast Ohio, because the children of Southeast Ohio cannot live without the internet any longer. I and other members and supporters of the Appalachian Children Coalition are looking forward to working with the state to address our region’s need.
Robin Burrow is the principal of Eastern Elementary in the Eastern Local School District in Meigs County and is a board member of the Appalachian Children Coalition.