District 87 has issued laptops to students in the 6th and seventh grades and has started offering WiFi connectivity to students in those classes too. (Photo by Eric Stock/WJBC)

By Eric Stock 

BLOOMINGTON – District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly calls it a social justice issue – many students don't have access to the internet. 

"We have kids who can't afford to get internet access at home through their families," Reilly said. Some might have it, but that might be through their phones and that's just not going to work."

Reilly told WJBC's Scott Laughlin, more school curriculum is web-based and students whose only online access is at school can fall behind. 

"It's extremely important kids have (internet) access outside of the confines of the school day," Reilly said. "We simply can't expect these kids are going to go to the local coffee shop or to the library, depending on where they live. They just aren't going to have the transportation or means to get to these places." 

The district has started a pilot program of providing wireless access through Frontier Communications that enables parents to use the district wireless network from home. It's starting in the sixth and seventh grades. 

"It's actually filtered as if the kid is at school," Reilly said, adding parents would have to sign a permission slip. 

Reilly said the goal is to expand the program to all of Bloomington Junior High and High School, but that will likely require additional money to pay for it. He estimates that would cost $70,000 to $100,000 per year. 

This is being done at no cost to families. The district currently provides laptop computers to students in grades six and seven and plans to include eighth graders next year and eventually the high school and some elementary school classes. 

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen's interview with Reilly on WJBC.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].