Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools, a smaller K-12 district in eastern Nebraska, had considered bus Wi-Fi for years. With students frequently traveling for activities and staff often working on the go, the need for reliable connectivity beyond the classroom kept growing.
“We had talked about bus Wi-Fi for quite a while but never acted on it,” shared Nathan Tonjes, Director of Technology and Assistant HS Football Coach at Ashland-Greenwood. “Eventually, once we saw that it could be covered using ECF funding, we decided to explore our options. We set up a meeting with Kajeet—and we liked what we saw.”
The district moved forward with equipping 13 of its school buses with Kajeet SmartBus Wi-Fi, as well as two portable bus Wi-Fi kits and 20 mobile hotspot devices, called SmartSpots, to support students and staff wherever internet access is needed.
The impact has been meaningful. With Wi-Fi on board, students stay connected during long bus rides, accessing assignments and learning resources from the road. Bus drivers also benefit from connectivity while waiting at events.
Teachers use the SmartSpots during travel and conferences, and several are checked out to students who lack reliable home internet. “We’ve identified students who need access, and currently have five to ten hotspots checked out,” Tonjes said. “It’s been a game changer.”
Administrators value the flexibility and control provided by Kajeet’s Sentinel platform. Tonjes shares that the multi-carrier connectivity, as well as content filtering, has helped the district remain compliant and focused.
Just as important has been Kajeet’s support. “Every time we’ve needed help, we’ve gotten quick feedback and actionable steps,” Tonjes shares. “The responsiveness has been excellent.”
“Every time we’ve needed help, we’ve gotten quick feedback and actionable steps."
Nathan Tonjes, Director of Technology and Assistant High School Football Coach, Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools
Ashland-Greenwood continues to expand learning opportunities—and with Kajeet, students and staff stay connected wherever the road takes them.
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