Red Bank Borough Schools Receive $177K For Virtual Learning Tech

RED BANK, NJ - Red Bank Borough students may be able to learn remotely a bit easier thanks to a grant from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF), which recently pledged to provide $177,000 to the district for connectivity and technology help during hybrid and remote learning.

Since March, the NJPRF - created to address the economic, social and medical impact of COVID-19 - has raised $37 million and provided over $19 million in aid to 460 nonprofits in all 21 counties throughout the state. Red Bank serves as one of nine districts across New Jersey sharing a total $2.6 million from the NJPRF to help bridge the digital divide exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. School districts in Newark, Paterson, Bridgeton, Freehold, Millville, Passaic, Old Bridge and Trenton are also receiving funding to purchase laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and internet access required for remote learning.

“In today’s world, having access to a computer and internet access is not a luxury, but a necessity,” said New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, the founding chair of NJPRF. “We are hopeful that our commitment - alongside that of others - will address this pressing need so students can continue learning through the pandemic.”

According to the school district, Red Bank’s funding will allow the district to purchase 250 touch-screen Chromebooks for preschool students and 250 Chromebooks for K-8 students.

“We are grateful and at the same time ecstatic for the financial support of the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund in order to help bridge the digital divide for our students and families,” said Red Bank Borough Public Schools Superintendent Jared J. Rumage.

“Equitable access to updated technology and connectivity opens a whole new world for our students and enables them to be exposed to new opportunities and learning experiences,” Rumage said in a statement.

“We have some of the most talented and resilient children in America and with this grant, we can ensure all Red Bank Borough Public School students have the capability to connect with our staff and continue to dream big.”