On the fringe of the Leander ISD district boundaries lies a rural neighborhood with winding county roads and a scenic Hill Country landscape. What the Cherry Hollow neighborhood makes up for in beauty, it lacks in internet cables–challenging both the school district and the families it serves. The following story illustrates how simple gestures have turned extraordinary when it comes to supporting the technology needs of the district.
LEEF receives $15,000 from HCBC to support technology needs
With technology at the heart of student Virtual Empowered Learning, the Leander ISD community and its partners are making valuable connections to serve each and every student.
Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) has received a $15,000 donation from Hill Country Bible Church (HCBC) to support technology needs throughout the district. These funds will help cover the cost of mLISD scholarships, provide rural communities with wired internet access as well as hotspots.
HCBC’s Community Impact Pastor Doug James presented the check to LEEF on Friday at Reed Elementary. While substantial a donation, the check only covered a third of what’s needed to support virtual learning year-round.
“We want to be a blessing to the community through whatever we can do to be a better, stronger community,” James said. “It’s going to be about $45,000 to provide the internet access for nine months through the school year as well as laptops for all the kids. We’d encourage the community to partner with us to provide the other $30,000 along with our $15,000 to make sure that every student can succeed this year because they have access to their virtual learning.”
LEEF’s Executive Director Kristen Huguley expressed excitement in receiving the donation. The nonprofit committed to enrichment and equity within LISD has been working since spring at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to find ways to support families in need.
“I would say that one of the positive things coming out of the pandemic is that there was a light shone on those families that really need a little extra love and care,” Huguley said. “When we go out into the community, we can connect with someone, like Doug and Hill Country Bible Church, who has a passion and a commitment to lifting families up. It really makes a world of difference. It just lifts our hearts to be able to create digital equity throughout the district.”