ELDON (AP) — Cardinal School District students in southern Iowa who take the bus now have something to look forward to on the ride to and from school.
The small district in Wapello County has outfitted its buses with high-speed, wireless Internet, Des Moines television station KCCI reported Saturday. It’s also giving students in grades 6 through 12 tablet computers loaded with educational apps and games.
The district believes it’s the first in Iowa to offer 4G wireless Internet service on school buses.
The district’s first two buses were equipped with Wi-Fi last week. It plans to provide the service on all 10 buses at a cost of about $600 a month.
Superintendent Joel Pedersen said the district’s bus routes are rural, and some students are on the bus for up to two hours a day.
Pedersen said the district “wanted to give them some capabilities to get their homework done.”
A content filter is installed to try to ensure students can’t access inappropriate content.
Pedersen said he’s already heard from several other Iowa districts looking at equipping their buses with Wi-Fi.