TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — If you see a Leon County school bus parked in your neighborhood over the coming weeks, it's not taking kids to school, its bringing school closer to kids through WiFi.
Superintendent Rocky Hanna presented the first of 15 smart buses Thursday in the Orange Avenue Apartment Complex.
Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the county will station the buses in predominately Section 8 communities.
Many of the students in these communities don't have access to the internet service required to complete distance learning.
"But anything we can do to help our kids get through these times, and navigate these times, and increase the amount of communication between the teacher who's at home and the student who's at home, it's a win-win," said Rocky Hanna, the superintendent of Leon County Schools.
This is in addition to the county previously providing more than 2,000 laptops for student use.
"This is innovation at its best and I'm so happy that are young people, particularly those ones who are out in Title I schools, will be the greatest beneficiaries of these smart buses," said Darryl Jones, Leon County School Board member.
Hanna says WiFi from the buses will cover an 800 foot radius and does require a passcode, which will be provided to students in their learning packets.
For more information on locations and instructions on how to get connected to the Wi-Fi, click here.
