Franklin County Schools Roll-out Wi-Fi Hotspot Buses // Wi-Fi on Bus Partnership

Date Published:

From Franklin County Economic Development

The N.C. Department of Information Technology is working with the North Carolina Business Committee on Education and Hometown Strong – as well as providers and other corporate partners – to help more students who lack home internet access get connected.

Thanks to donations from AT&T, Google and Duke Energy Foundation, school buses in the districts listed below have been equipped with Wi-Fi to bring internet access during the COVID-19 pandemic to communities without it.

The buses travel to underserved areas in school districts and park in designated locations, such as a school nutrition meal distribution site or a grocery store, so students can use this temporary access to turn in assignments, download materials and connect with teachers.

The drive-up Wi-Fi access is also available for all residents in the communities to use to connect to health care providers, apply for unemployment and access other critical information and services while exercising appropriate social distancing precautions.

These buses join the hundreds of other free Wi-Fi hotspots from providers across the state who are already providing locations where residents can access the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The schedule and locations for Franklin County Schools’ bus-based, as well as business and government, WiFi hotspots has been updated. These free WiFi access zones are available to all district families in an effort to allow all students without internet access to log on and learn.

“We are focused on helping all of our families have equitable access to the devices and internet services they need during remote learning,” said Dr. Rhonda Schuhler, Superintendent of Franklin County Schools. “We are grateful to our community partners for helping us with this effort!”

FCS’ bus WiFi hotspots will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., School Days, at the following sites:

  • Duke Memorial Baptist Church: 3976 NC 581, Louisburg
  • Epsom Park: Intersection of Hwy 39 and Eaves Rd., Epsom Community, Henderson
  • Franklinton Park: 99 Park Ave., Franklinton
  • Hill King United Methodist Church: 1839 NC 39 S., Louisburg
  • Joyner Park: 224 W River Rd., Louisburg
  • Perry Oaks Subdivision: 30 Pearce Wood Ct., Zebulon
  • Pilot Lions Park: 38 Pilot Bypass, Zebulon
  • Sarepta Church: NC Hwy 561 & Laurel Mill Centerville Rd.
  • Timberline Subdivision: Hart Rd. and Flat Rock Church Rd.
  • Wammock Storage Buildings: Corner of Kenmore Ave. & South Main St., Louisburg

The following businesses and government locations are also offering free WiFi to FCS families:

  • Blue Collie Coffee Shop: 106 N. Main St., Louisburg
  • McDonald’s of Louisburg: US Hwy. 401, Beckett Blvd. Louisburg
  • McDonald’s of Youngsville: 1110 US Hwy. 1, Youngsville
  • Lifeline Outreach Ministries: 3227 NC 581 Hwy, Louisburg
  • Franklin County Central Library: 906 North Main St., Louisburg
  • Bunn Branch Library: 610 Main St., Bunn
  • Franklinton Branch Library: 9 West Mason St., Franklinton
  • Youngsville Branch Library: 218 US-1A Hwy. South, Youngsville

All 16 schools in the FCS district are also offering Wi-Fi access from certain areas of their parking lots. For a list of Franklin County Schools and their addresses, visit the FCS website, look under the “About FCS” tab and click on the “Contact Us” menu option. The addresses of all schools are located under the “Our Schools” section. You can also visit the following link: https://www.fcschools.net/domain/70

 

(Updated: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020)