Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced today two New Mexico communities have been awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Office for distance learning.

The Gallup-McKinley County School District has been awarded a $499,486 grant to create a video teleconferencing system that will connect 18 schools to each other and to hubs at the Educational Development Center and at the Gallup-McKinley central office.  The project will help connect teachers and students in 10 communities to share courses, initiate new courses and to offer professional development for faculty.  The school district will also develop collaborative programs to capture, preserve and build upon the rich Native American history and culture.

Jemez Valley Public Schools will receive a $475,145 grant for a project that will serve over 1,000 square miles of rural northern New Mexico and connect 8 schools in this region.  Advanced placement courses, language classes, continuing education/certification courses for teachers are among the benefits of the project.  Additionally, the system will link to the Jemez Valley Medical Clinic to help provide medical support and training to the small health staff which is shared among all schools in the project area.

"This grant funding is an important investment in New Mexico's students.  It will provide kids will access to course they otherwise would not have," Bingaman said.