04-21-2020 EDC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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EDC Minutes Apri121, 2020 Page 4 of 7 ----------------------------- Commissioner Lelwica asked how distance learning is going and if everyone is getting the bandwidth they need. Commissioner Crochet stated that they have never been busier and they have been putting in orders for bandwidth for people have never had it before because they had offered a free sixty day trial. He said they have been doing speed upgrades and on top of that in the areas they offer TV they have been doing N installs like crazy for the last finro months. He stated that there are no problems getting the speeds that the people are asking for. Commissioner Rieck asked for clarification on what Corporate Partners Commissioner Crochet is talking about. He explained that it is the investors and that TDS is publically traded so they have to go through the corporate meetings to verify if they want to be putting their invested money into these markets. 8. School Update Chair Lindholm stated that distance learning is going ok for the majority of families. He said they just did a survey yesterday and had about 250 responses from parents. He stated that 70-80% of them say it is working but it is not great. He said there is about 10% of people that are saying this is awesome for my kid but he also stated there is a fair amount that think it is a train wreck and those are probably the kids that were struggling in the regular school environment. He talked about how this is a more long term problem and not just into May. Chair Lindholm talked about the school having about 200 kids classified as a high-risk category and that they cannot be at the school so they will have to figure out distance learning for them next year or the parents may open enroll them in an online academy and then Pequot School is out 200 students and $200 million in revenue for the next school year. He stated that they not only have to figure out how to get through May but how to look at next school year. He said that is very heavy on the teachers who are working hard. Chair Lindholm stated that the School Board approved Wold Architects to take a look at the former Echo Building and they also approved focusing it on Robotics, Engineering and Construction. He said they are going to attempt to draw up plans for a Robotics' course and move the publication's lab and engineering lab out there which will free up some space is in the main High School which was the whole point of buying the building. He also discussed that they may possibly get their construction kids to do the construction on that building ne�year. Discussion ensued about Robotics' programs around the area. 9. Chamber Update Katie Wassermann said on a personal note that her son one of the 10% doing well with the distance learning and he is thriving in this environment. She stated that the Chambers are shifting away from the Lake Proud message to a more government affairs message because they are trying to figure out the best way from a Chamber perspective in getting their member's businesses open. She