Contact:  Sarah  Julian   Email:  [email protected]   Phone:  405-­‐212-­‐4802  ext.  105   FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE       Resource  Center  Provides  Affordable,  High-­‐Quality  Websites  for  Schools     Oklahoma  City,  OK—In  light  of  the  change  in  federal  law  that  declares  schools  can   no  longer  pay  for  websites  with  E-­‐Rate  funding,  the  Oklahoma  Public  School   Resource  Center  (OPSRC)  has  begun  offering  public  schools  a  viable  solution.     Until  last  year,  federal  E-­‐Rate  funds,  which  help  schools  cover  the  costs  of  affordable   telecommunications  and  Internet  access,  allowed  schools  to  pay  for  website  hosting.     With  that  no  longer  an  option,  the  OPSRC  has  created  a  program  to  help.  For  a  one-­‐ time  set-­‐up  fee  of  $750.00  and  a  yearly  charge  of  $100.00,  the  center  will  create  a   rich  website  that  contains  both  all  state-­‐required  content  as  well  as  the  district’s   information.  This  offering  has  the  potential  to  save  districts  thousands  of  dollars  on   a  yearly  basis  in  support  and  hosting  fees.     “With  education  funding  in  its  current  state,  we  felt  it  crucial  to  create  a  cost   effective  solution  that  will  meet  schools’  needs  but  not  break  the  bank,”  said  OPSRC   Executive  Director  Brent  Bushey.    “Having  the  ability  to  provide  this  service  is   significant  in  that  it  will  free  up  funding  that  schools  can  reallocate  to  other  needs.”     The  entire  process  from  initial  contact  to  going  live  with  the  website  is   approximately  two  weeks.  This  allows  schools  to  transition  quickly  and  smoothly   with  no  downtime  in  between.     “The  websites  we  build  use  the  latest  trends  in  web  design,  so  they  have  a  clean  look   and  feel  and  are  responsive  to  any  device  on  which  they  are  viewed,”  said  OPSRC  IT   Director  Ben  Parker.  “We  work  closely  with  the  school  at  all  stages  to  ensure  their   needs  are  taken  into  consideration  and  they  have  final  approval  of  a  product  they   are  proud  to  put  their  name  on  and  showcase  to  their  community.”     Chickasha  Public  Schools  was  the  first  district  to  take  advantage  of  the  web  offering.   “The  entire  process  was  completely  seamless  and  the  new  site  is  so  much  easier  to   update,”  said  Superintendent  Dave  Cash.  “The  look  is  professional,  easy  for  our   patrons  to  navigate  and  we  have  heard  nothing  but  positive  comments  from  the   community.  Even  more,  it’s  saving  our  district  $6,000.00  a  year.  ”     -­‐-­‐more-­‐-­‐    

For  more  information  on  this  program,  school  districts  are  encouraged  to  contact   OPSRC  at  [email protected].     About  the  OPSRC     Headquartered  in  Oklahoma  City,  the  Oklahoma  Public  School  Resource  Center  is  a   non-­‐profit  organization  that  provides  essential  resources,  professional  development     and  networking  opportunities  for  the  state’s  public  school  districts.    The  Center   advocates  on  behalf  of  public  schools  for  high-­‐quality  instruction  for  all  students   and  supports  increasing  classroom  innovation  to  provide  Oklahoma’s  students  with   a  challenging,  globally  competitive  education.       ###