A Project to

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PARTNERS Southwestern NC Planning Economic
Development Commission Western Region Education
Service Alliance (WRESA) Jackson County
Schools Macon County Schools Clay County
Schools Cherokee County Schools Graham County
Schools Swain County Schools Cherokee Tribal
Schools Southwestern Community College Western
Carolina University Tri County Community College

• WNC EdNET builds on prior visionary efforts of
  regional college, school and corporate leaders.
• The WNC EdNET approach is collaborative and as
  such provides for a focus of resources in a
  rural, sparsely populated section of Southern
  Appalachia. A myriad of different players are
  working together rather than competing with each
  other in procurement and use of critical
  resources.
• When complete, the project will permit area
  students to compete at or above par with their
  counterparts globally. In effect, learning
  opportunities not currently available or imagined
  will be accessible by the target students.

A Project to Enhance Learning Using Broadband
Techniques
Funding Provided By
WNC EdNET CONTACTS Dr. Jan Webster,
Director Western Region Education Service
Alliance PO Box 1709, Enka, NC 28728 Phone 828
.418.0011, ext. 21 Email jwebster_at_wresa.org Mr.
Bill Gibson, Executive Director Southwestern
Planning Commission 125 Bonnie Lane, Sylva, NC
28779 Phone [phone] Email bill_at_regiona.org

For additional information visit the
WRESA Website at www.wresa.org
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Western North Carolinas WNC EdNET A Ring of
Stars
WNC EdNET Project Summary
Purpose To collaboratively assist the schools
and colleges in Jackson, Macon, Clay, Cherokee,
Graham and Swain Counties, and the Cherokee
Tribal Schools to procure and use upgradeable
high capacity broadband technology configurations
and services to enhance learning, professional
development, and organization administration, and
to open up learning opportunities not currently
available or imagined. Objectives 1) To
establish a collaborative of partners for the
purpose of collaboratively enhancing the
development and use of technology as a tool for
improving learning opportunities 2) To facilitate
procurement of broadband infrastructure by
participating partners central and field
sites 3) To facilitate capacity building and use
of broadband technology for the enhancement of
teaching and learning 4) To help export the WNC
EdNET model to other potential adopting sites.
Funding The WNC Education Network is jointly
funded by grant monies from the Golden LEAF
Foundation, the Cherokee Preservation Foundation,
the Appalachian Regional Commission, the NC Rural
Economic Development Center, and the Business and
Education Technology Alliance/Public Schools of
North Carolina. These funds will be used mostly
as start-up costs supporting Objective 2. Other
resources will be sought to further implement and
continue the project. Partnerships and
Organization The project grantee is the
Southwestern Commission which will partner with
the Western Region Education Service Alliance
(WRESA) to collaboratively manage the grants. An
Executive Steering Committee composed of the CEOs
of the 12 partners plus a Golden LEAF
representative govern the project. Partner
Technology Coordinators are primarily responsible
for implementing and helping to evaluate the
program. A Technology Applications Committee
provides leadership in use of high speed
technologies and applications. Consulting
Partners from other agencies and organizations
such as ERC, e-NC Authority and NCDPI provide
technical leadership and guidance.
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SC
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WNC EdNET Partner Organizations - 70 Educational
Sites
Graham County Schools (GCS)
Clay County Schools (Clay Schools) (CS)
Jackson County Schools (JCS)
Macon County Schools (MCS)
Cherokee County Schools (CCS)
Swain County Schools (SCS)
Cherokee Central (Tribal) Schools (CTS)
Implementation Partners
Western Carolina University (WCU)
Southwestern Community College (SWCC)
Funding Agencies Appalachian Regional Commission
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Golden Leaf
Foundation NC Rural Center Business
Education Technology Alliance/Public Schools of
North Carolina
Tri County Community College (TCC)
Southwestern NC Planning Economic Development
Commission (Southwestern Commission) Western
Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA)