Telecommunications provider Optimum, a brand of Altice, donated $30,000 to the Sedona Oak Creek School District during a presentation Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.

SOCSD staff plans to use the donation to purchase 101 Chromebooks for students at West Sedona School.

“Kids are going to go nuts as soon as they hear about this,” said Patti Falsetto, a first-grade teacher at WSS.

“This is part of DonorsChoose’s efforts to engage employees in funding projects in schools across the country,” said Jim Campbell, Optimum’s vice president of government affairs.

“We have projects submitted in major markets, but Camp Verde and Sedona are huge markets for us. This is part of our effort to reconnect ourselves with our local markets. is.”

This is the fourth year in a row that Optimum has donated to public schools through its DonorsChoose platform, according to the company’s website.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Chilton said SOCSD is currently meeting its goal of having a 1:1 ratio of Chromebooks to students, but there will still be a need for replacements.

“This is an ongoing process,” Chilton said. “Old ones wear out, so you have to buy a certain number of them every year, update them, and replace them. Schools also provide durable cases to protect Chromebooks. Student backpacks are the best choice for computers. It can be a tough place. All teachers are using Google Classroom as a classroom and home learning tool, and students are seen using computers intermittently throughout the day.”

Optimum gifted Camp Verde Elementary School $30,000 on December 9th, and the school will use the donation to purchase two 32 Chromebook carts.

“This is all a team effort for our district and I’ve been here a long time,” Falsetto said. “I’ve lived here probably 51 years and I’ve seen a lot of growth, but I’ve always seen schools working together, teachers working together, knowing what’s best for the kids. There’s a lot of work ahead, but this will help.”