Doddridge County High School student Jackson Holden works on the computer during school. The STEAM program at the high school will be working with Citynet to help setup broadband service for county residents. (Photo Provided)

WEST UNION — Doddridge County Schools and Citynet are partnering together to expand broadband in the county.

With collaboration from JASON Learning, the new program is set to start this fall, and will involve science, technology, engineering and math students for its setup, with two different challenges for them.

The first is a “Design and Pitch” challenge, in which students develop an idea and prototype to successfully set up first time Internet users in the county, and then pitch their ideas.

“The course will encourage students to think as an entrepreneur and build a successful business plan to help first-time internet users properly connect to the internet,” a press release from the Doddridge County Board of Education said.

The second challenge will involve the use of math and engineering skills to face the challenge of bringing the necessary infrastructure and network into the homes.

Members of the STEM program at Doddridge County High School will work with Citynet to install more broadband capabilities for the county. (Photo Provided)

“It is imperative that all of our students have broadband service, regardless of their economic realities. We believe that this public/private relationship will be a statewide model to address the digital divide throughout West Virginia,” superintendent Adam Cheeseman said. “When we first met with JASON Learning last fall to discuss a curriculum based on the upcoming broadband expansion, little did we realize how vital these preparations would be today when all instruction is being delivered remotely.”

Funding for the broadband project was provided by the Doddridge County Commission, who provided $1.5 million and the Board of Education provided $600,000.

“Especially now we can see the importance of internet connectivity in the underserved areas of our county. We are doing what we can to provide remote education to all of our students, and with the help of Citynet and JASON Learning we will succeed,” Cheeseman said.

Providing an avenue for students to participate in something that will impact the county is an unique experience for them, officials said, and they can proudly say they helped.

“While there is broad recognition that STEM skills are key to accessing the high-paying jobs of the future, most communities are not making a clear connection between classroom learning, their local industries and job opportunities,” said Dr. Eleanor Smalley, JASON Learning President and CEO. “What’s happening now in Doddridge–linking curriculum, local businesses and real-world problem-solving that requires STEM thinking–is an exciting new model for student learning and workforce development that communities across the U.S. should strive to emulate.”

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.