Presented to: The Education and Research Consortium February 6, 2006

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Initiative A collaborative initiative for bringing broadband connectivity to support schools and school systems within the six-county western region.

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Partners Jackson County Schools Jackson County Schools Macon County Schools Macon County Schools Clay County Schools Clay County Schools Cherokee County Schools Cherokee County Schools Graham County Schools Graham County Schools Swain County Schools Swain County Schools The Cherokee Tribal Schools The Cherokee Tribal Schools Western Carolina University Western Carolina University Southwestern Community College Southwestern Community College Tri-County Community College Tri-County Community College The Western Region Education Service Alliance The Western Region Education Service Alliance The Southwest Economic Development Commission The Southwest Economic Development Commission

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Impact Broadband connectivity to over 70 Western North Carolina public school, charter school and college sites in the six county region Broadband connectivity to over 70 Western North Carolina public school, charter school and college sites in the six county region Connecting rural schools with their respective administrative structures Connecting rural schools with their respective administrative structures Connecting the partners with high-speed inter- connectivity Connecting the partners with high-speed inter- connectivity Most importantly – delivery of information rich resources for student learning Most importantly – delivery of information rich resources for student learning

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Objectives Establish a collaborative of partners for enhancing the development and use of technology for improving student learning Establish a collaborative of partners for enhancing the development and use of technology for improving student learning Facilitate procurement of broadband infrastructure to support participating partners’ connectivity efforts Facilitate procurement of broadband infrastructure to support participating partners’ connectivity efforts Facilitate capacity building and use of broadband technology for the enhancement of teaching and learning Facilitate capacity building and use of broadband technology for the enhancement of teaching and learning Transfer the WNC EdNET model to other potential adopting sites. Transfer the WNC EdNET model to other potential adopting sites.

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Core Values The very heart of the WNC EdNET is that of partner collaboration. The very heart of the WNC EdNET is that of partner collaboration. Very high levels of multi-agency collaboration in the planning process Very high levels of multi-agency collaboration in the planning process Governance consisting of three collaborative groups: Governance consisting of three collaborative groups: Executive Steering Committee of the CEO’s from each participating partner Executive Steering Committee of the CEO’s from each participating partner Technology Implementation Group consisting of the technology coordinators from each partner Technology Implementation Group consisting of the technology coordinators from each partner Technology Application /Staff Development Group consisting of curriculum experts from each partner organization, and consulting partners from other agencies and organizations such as ERC, e-NC Authority and NCDPI. Technology Application /Staff Development Group consisting of curriculum experts from each partner organization, and consulting partners from other agencies and organizations such as ERC, e-NC Authority and NCDPI.

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Progress WRESA serves as facilitating agency WRESA serves as facilitating agency Governance structure formed as a true collaborative Governance structure formed as a true collaborative Executive Steering Committee formed - CEOs of the 12 partners plus a Golden LEAF representative Executive Steering Committee formed - CEOs of the 12 partners plus a Golden LEAF representative Technology Advisory Team formed - Technology Coordinators from each of the partners Technology Advisory Team formed - Technology Coordinators from each of the partners External Consultants engaged - Golden Leaf, ERC, e- NC and local resources External Consultants engaged - Golden Leaf, ERC, e- NC and local resources Technology Applications/Development group organization underway Technology Applications/Development group organization underway Network priorities identified Network priorities identified Grants submitted to Golden Leaf and to Cherokee Preservation Foundation Grants submitted to Golden Leaf and to Cherokee Preservation Foundation

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Successes Functional partnerships – high levels of collaboration Functional partnerships – high levels of collaboration Awarded $2 million from the Golden Leaf Foundation Awarded $2 million from the Golden Leaf Foundation Southwestern Commission and Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) collaboratively managing grant. Southwestern Commission and Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) collaboratively managing grant. Cherokee Preservation Foundation grant very promising (April) Cherokee Preservation Foundation grant very promising (April) Solicited vendor input and pricing for network connectivity - Verizon, ASAP, MetroStat, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. Solicited vendor input and pricing for network connectivity - Verizon, ASAP, MetroStat, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Design A ring of stars

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Design Fiber connection from each school to central hub location – priority 1 Fiber connection from each school to central hub location – priority 1 At least 100mb of bandwidth on laterals At least 100mb of bandwidth on laterals Managed by the LEA Managed by the LEA Seven stars, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay, Cherokee, and Cherokee Reservation Seven stars, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay, Cherokee, and Cherokee Reservation Laterals also connecting WCU Cherokee Center, SCC Macon Campus, Tri-County Graham campus Laterals also connecting WCU Cherokee Center, SCC Macon Campus, Tri-County Graham campus Fiber ring connecting the stars and Western, SCC, TCCC as well as co-location access to ERC and multiple Internet service providers. Fiber ring connecting the stars and Western, SCC, TCCC as well as co-location access to ERC and multiple Internet service providers. At least 1Gb of bandwidth for ring – collaboratively managed At least 1Gb of bandwidth for ring – collaboratively managed

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Implementation 20 Year IRU on fiber offered by Alliance for Southern Appalachian Prosperity – Balsam West, Blue Ridge Electric, Southern Pipeline, Southwestern Community College, Cisco Systems 20 Year IRU on fiber offered by Alliance for Southern Appalachian Prosperity – Balsam West, Blue Ridge Electric, Southern Pipeline, Southwestern Community College, Cisco Systems Proposal includes fiber to 70+ locations Proposal includes fiber to 70+ locations ASAP provides fiber maintenance, locates, some sharing of un- recoverable repair costs as appropriate ASAP provides fiber maintenance, locates, some sharing of un- recoverable repair costs as appropriate Balsam West provides co-location access to service providers Balsam West provides co-location access to service providers Negotiating construction timelines, delay penalties, mediation of differences, etc.. Estimated one year construction time frame Negotiating construction timelines, delay penalties, mediation of differences, etc.. Estimated one year construction time frame Cannot be used for commercial purposes or inter-network data transport to serve other users Cannot be used for commercial purposes or inter-network data transport to serve other users Unlimited educational facility connections, requires associated fiber installation costs Unlimited educational facility connections, requires associated fiber installation costs

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Implementation Networking Equipment Networking Equipment Collaborative managed Collaborative managed 100mb or 1Gb hardware for lateral connections to each site 100mb or 1Gb hardware for lateral connections to each site SoNET connectivity on ring SoNET connectivity on ring Have price quote from ASAP Have price quote from ASAP Preparing to solicit pricing from network hardware vendors Preparing to solicit pricing from network hardware vendors

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Cost Project cost figure is $5 million Project cost figure is $5 million Anticipate reducing cost through negotiation to $4.5 million Anticipate reducing cost through negotiation to $4.5 million Funding available $2 million Funding available $2 million Anticipate $1 million from Cherokee Preservation grant Anticipate $1 million from Cherokee Preservation grant Need $1.5 million to complete project Need $1.5 million to complete project Significant in-kind contributions and support have been demonstrated by collaborative partners for implementing and sustaining project Significant in-kind contributions and support have been demonstrated by collaborative partners for implementing and sustaining project

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Sustainability Accomplished in multiple ways: Ongoing operational technology allocations in the respective partner’s budgets will cover operational and re-occurring costs. Ongoing operational technology allocations in the respective partner’s budgets will cover operational and re-occurring costs. E-rate will be used to support and reduce operational costs E-rate will be used to support and reduce operational costs Additional revenue streams and sources will be solicited and leveraged Additional revenue streams and sources will be solicited and leveraged Continued collaborative planning, leveraging, purchasing and cost sharing will keep future costs manageable Continued collaborative planning, leveraging, purchasing and cost sharing will keep future costs manageable * Project partners do not expect that the grant funding will reduce the technology operating costs over the long term. Rather, grants will provide crucial start-up costs to enable connectivity that otherwise would not be obtainable.

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Outcomes Sites will be connected with broadband configurations giving access to each other and the outside world Sites will be connected with broadband configurations giving access to each other and the outside world User capacity/capability expanded to take advantage of broadband’s potential User capacity/capability expanded to take advantage of broadband’s potential The application of knowledge and skill to deliver a broad range of programs and services The application of knowledge and skill to deliver a broad range of programs and services Enhancement of learning opportunities for children in the western region Enhancement of learning opportunities for children in the western region Efficient administration of partner organizations. Efficient administration of partner organizations.

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Evaluation Data collection through documents, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and site visits Data collection through documents, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and site visits A documentation process to track progress on infrastructure procurement A documentation process to track progress on infrastructure procurement Timelines of installation and testing will be measurable elements Timelines of installation and testing will be measurable elements Ratings of work quality to measure levels of quality of equipment and services procured Ratings of work quality to measure levels of quality of equipment and services procured Frequency and adequacy of problem resolution will be tracked Frequency and adequacy of problem resolution will be tracked Cost saving comparisons using collaborative approach will be supplied. Cost saving comparisons using collaborative approach will be supplied. Tracking of actual or anticipated organizational change Tracking of actual or anticipated organizational change

Supported by Golden Leaf Foundation WNC EdNET Questions and comments Roger Metcalf, Bob Byrd, Andy Gibson, Bob Orr