Closing the ‘digital divide’: Chelmsford officials discuss importance of ARPA funding

By Cameron Morsberger

CHELMSFORD — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan visited Parker Middle School Monday to discuss the more than $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding Chelmsford Public Schools received to help students access online learning in the pandemic.

The district received a total of $815,130 from the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, which was used to buy 2,200 Google Chromebooks for middle and high school students to finish coursework at home, as well as 70 WiFi hotspots that students can check out with parental permission from any library in the district. Parker Middle School, McCarthy Middle School and Chelmsford High School have a combined population of about 3,000 students.

Members of the School Committee and Select Board, Superintendent of Schools Jay Lang, Town Manager Paul Cohen and other officials discussed the impact of the ARPA funding in front of a group of middle school history and civics students, who asked questions following the talk.

The pandemic, Trahan said, highlighted the increasing “digital divide” in schools — some students do not have stable internet or reliable technology, meaning they can fall behind their peers. Though those resources were important in the virtual learning environment, Trahan said local governments should still make investments in technology outside of the classroom.

“Parents, myself included, we found ourselves transforming the kitchen table into desks for our kids, becoming home IT experts when the software wasn’t working,” Trahan said in an interview. “I think much of the technological adjustments that we were forced to make during COVID, especially in our schools, are here to stay, and I firmly believe that we should embrace that.”

The American Rescue Plan Act passed in Congress last year, with Trahan’s support, and formed the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund — a program that seeks to provide resources to libraries and schools to help students gain internet access for remote learning during the pandemic.

Cohen said receiving this additional support during the pandemic was critical and will benefit the next generation as they continue to learn.

“The funding will ensure that all Chelmsford students will have the ability to access the internet with a computer,” Cohen said. “This will help fulfill the town’s educational responsibilities, which includes the preparation of our youth for the digital world of today and tomorrow.”

The ARPA fund has since allotted nearly $7.2 billion across the country, with a total of $4.3 million for 25 schools and libraries in the 3rd Congressional District this year that will go toward costs of computers and off-campus internet connectivity. Chelmsford Public Schools received the second-most funding in the area behind Haverhill, which accepted $823,629. The Ayer-Shirley Regional School District and Dracut Public Schools received $358,000 and $110,000, respectively.

Students rely on online research and digital resources to continue to learn and complete their homework, and Lang said the $800,000 in funding is accounting for the needs of many students in Chelmsford schools.

“The pandemic has shown just how critical access to the internet and necessary technology is for students,” Lang said in a press release. “We’re grateful for the congresswoman’s continued partnership and support and look forward to our ongoing work together to ensure that every student in Chelmsford has access to the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.”

Trahan voiced her support for other programs designed to close the “homework gap,” she said, noting that Congress dedicated about $190 billion in elementary and secondary education relief over the last two years.

New laptops and tablets, as well as routers, hotspots and other broadband connectivity purchases, allow local schools to even the playing field for students, Trahan said.

“Those are all urgent needs as our communities continue to rely on access to the internet and necessary technology for online learning and schoolwork,” Trahan said. “I’m looking forward to continuing those investments in the cities and towns all across the 3rd District.”