Portage Township Schools is working to install a Wi-Fi umbrella to increase the Internet connection for students and staff throughout the district. This Wi-Fi umbrella will cover sidewalk to sidewalk on every campus when finished.
Director of Instructional Technology and Data Services David Lesich said that the new Wi-Fi umbrella will give teachers the flexibility to design lessons that can be delivered both inside and outside of the school building. Teachers may be able to use technology that they have not used in the past.
“I’m excited for the opportunity for kids and teachers to be able to not have to be in a traditional classroom,” Lesich said.
Portage High School’s Wi-Fi umbrella is almost complete, and it testing has shown it to be successful. Lesich said when the signal was checked from across the south access road, a Wi-Fi enabled device was still connected.
In addition to the umbrella, access points are being added to the areas with weak or no Wi-Fi access.
Willowcreek Middle School and Fegely Middle School are wired and ready for the Wi-Fi umbrella to be installed at each location. The Wi-Fi umbrellas at both middle schools and Aylesworth Elementary School will be completed by the end of the summer. The other seven elementary schools will follow next year. The goal is to have all of the school’s Wi-Fi umbrellas finished by the 2019-2020 school year.
Lesich hopes that these Wi-Fi umbrellas will give students more ability to connect to the Internet.
The Portage Police Station and Woodland Park also offer free Wi-Fi access.
Lesich hopes to install more park benches and possibly pavilions for classes that may go outside.