New Fiber Optic Network to Connect Eugene, Springfield High Schools and Education Centers Together and to the World.

Thanks to a unique partnership among local schools and utilities, a fiber optic network that connects local high schools and school district education centers together is on its way.

By the end of the school year, Eugene School District 4J, Springfield School District, Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) and Springfield Utility Board (SUB) hope to have eight education sites connected together and to the world utilizing a combination of new equipment and the core fiber optic networks the two utilities have constructed in the last year or two.

Each utility has designated several fibers in the core fiber optic networks for the schools. Now, an effort is underway to raise approximately $1 million to complete the connections between the network and the schools. This includes construction costs and the purchase of electronics that transmit and receive information over the network. These electronics “light” the network, forming the “on and off ramps” to the network. The schools expect this vital new backbone network will enable students to explore new and exciting learning opportunities.

The fund-raising effort will be targeted to local businesses and technology and education supporters and is being facilitated by the Eugene Education Fund and Springfield Education Foundation.