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Interactive classroom in Libby opens educational doors

Outside funding has been secured to cover the cost of installing an interactive
classroom in Libby, the school district announced Monday.

The Vision Net technology http://www.montanavision.net/ will allow students an opportunity to receive a four-year or master’s
degree without leaving Lincoln County. High school students also will benefit, by being able to
take classes not presently offered in Libby.

The classroom will be located at the Lincoln County Campus and used jointly by college and high
school students, said district superintendent Kirby Maki.

Lincoln County Campus interim director “George Gerard and I went to Eureka and visited with the
directors of InterBell and Vision Net,” Maki said. “Libby was accepted to receive $70,000 of
equipment to install a classroom studio.”

The decision by Vision Net board of directors to include Libby became final April 12. The
equipment was secured by a Rural Utilities grant and a donation from InterBell Communications.

While the start-up costs will be waived, maintenance and usage fees are estimated at just less
than $9,000 per year, a cost Maki said will be picked up by the college. A contract between the
two institutions has yet to be finalized, but Gerard said the deal was “sealed by a handshake.”

“There will be no cost to the district,” Maki said.

Trustees, upon seeing a chance for free money, unanimously approved a motion to install the
equipment.

“I think this is something that can really help the schools,” trustee Jim England said.

Almost 100 high schools and colleges are incorporated into the Vision Net network. Each of the
schools hooked up has the capabilities to receive and broadcast classes.

Lincoln County Campus could increase its enrollment numbers by transmitting ongoing classes to
other schools. Reaching distance-learning students in Lincoln County, especially in Eureka, is
one of the goals of the project, Gerard said.

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