MISD works to improve internet

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD superintendent Dr. John Denson attended a meeting of the Region 14 Education Service West Texas Tech Co-op on Wednesday, Feb. 9, to discuss ways to improve internet availability for students.

“A lot of rural schools have trouble getting internet because of their location,” Denson said.

The consortium consists of 55 members comprising school districts, colleges and universities, libraries, museums, hospitals, and city and government agencies in the West Central Texas area.

The WTTC provides telecommunications services for its members including internet services, IP voice and IP video services, technical support, and training. It now provides internet access for close to 80,000 endpoints throughout the region. The consortium has nearly 200 internet video endpoint connections providing video conferencing services to the membership.

Denson said the co-op’s Operation Connectivity could help schools receive grants to help provide internet service.

“The WTTC has laid the groundwork for all of these rural schools to have internet,” he said. “It’s ahead of the curve as far as most areas in internet connections.”

While the project is just in the preliminary planning stages, Denson said one possible outcome is providing internet access to students at home.

“The technology is there, and we could use the infrastructure we already have in place,” he said.

100 Days

Moran commemorated the 100th day of the school year on Wednesday, Feb. 9 with a number of activities.

“Our kindergarten teacher did some different activities where the students counted to 100 using Fruit Loops,” Moran principal Jo Hise said. “Some students made shirts with 100 pompons on them, and others dressed up like old people.”

FFA Officers

Moran FFA members are in the process of applying to be officers for the 2022-23 school year.

They are filling out applications and planning interviews with school board members.

“It’s not just ‘raise your hand if you want to be president,’” Denson said.  “It’s going to be more of a structured process.”

Denson said steps for selecting officers are spelled out in the chapter bylaws.

“There are some things the candidates are supposed to do,” he said. “It’s not just a popularity contest.”

Judging Teams

Moran’s meat judging team will compete at San Angelo on Saturday, Feb. 19 and at San Antonio on Sunday, Feb. 20.

The horse judging team’s Feb. 4 trip to Fort Worth was cancelled because of winter weather.