Optimum Lightpath Awards $100,000 To Help Long Island Schools Deploy Educational Technology

BETHPAGE, N.Y., Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 11 Long Island schools will have the opportunity to roll out ambitious new technology-driven learning programs as a result of $100,000 in grants awarded today by Optimum Lightpath®. Optimum Lightpath, a market leader in Ethernet-based communication solutions for New York metropolitan area businesses, announced the recipients of its education technology grant program at its Long Island Education Technology Conference held at parent company Cablevision's headquarters in Bethpage.

The following schools, which were chosen from among 157 applicants, will receive grants of up to $10,000 from Optimum Lightpath to advance teaching and learning with technology:

$10,000 Grant Winners

• Bethpage High School – Bethpage
• Forest Avenue Elementary/West Babylon JHS – West Babylon
• Harding Avenue Elementary School – Lindenhurst
• Lindenhurst High School – Lindenhurst
• North Babylon High School – North Babylon
• Sachem North High School – Ronkonkoma
• Sacred Heart Academy – Hempstead
• Saul & Elaine Seiff Educare Center – Bohemia
• Searingtown School – Albertson

$5,000 Grant Winners

• Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School – Rocky Point
• Harbor Country Day School – St. James

"Optimum Lightpath understands the importance of advancing education and we're proud to count the company among Nassau County businesses investing in the community it serves," said Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano. "Long Island schools are constantly evaluating new ways to learn and infusing technology into programs today is helping to better prepare our students for tomorrow. We congratulate the schools that received an education technology grant today and wish them well on the rollout of exciting new programs."

Schools receiving an Optimum Lightpath grant plan to fund a wide range of technology based programs. These new initiatives include distance learning, virtual field trips, connecting students to their communities in new ways, creation of a living history museum, helping students with disabilities function independently, replacing textbooks with interactive E-books, participating in interactive global awareness projects, better preparing students for college, offering more customized learning opportunities and more.

"The $100,000 in grants awarded to Long Island schools today underscore Optimum Lightpath's ongoing commitment to creating new opportunities for educational institutions that are powered by new, transformational technology," said Dave Pistacchio, President, Optimum Lightpath. "We are eager to see the new innovative technology-infused programs implemented throughout the school year and will continue to look for opportunities to benefit students and teachers throughout the New York metro area we serve."

The grant program was open to public and private elementary and secondary schools in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk. Grants were awarded based on how the school would:

• Leverage technology to improve instruction;
• Promote the use of technology to improve the overall education experience;
• Utilize new technology to promote distance learning; and
• Create new school initiatives centered around new technologies.

An independent grant application review committee was assembled in order to ensure a thorough application evaluation process. All applications were made anonymous so as not to influence the judging process.

Optimum Lightpath works extensively with schools throughout the New York metropolitan area to deliver Ethernet-based communication services that transform education in the classroom. Schools that have deployed services from Optimum Lightpath's Education Services Suite have cut costs, considerably increased bandwidth and enhanced teaching and learning. For more information about Optimum Lightpath's work in the education sector, visit: http://www.optimumlightpath.com/education.

For more information about Optimum Lightpath, visit www.optimumlightpath.com.  

About Optimum Lightpath

Optimum Lightpath, a division of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC), is an industry leader in providing advanced Ethernet-based data, Internet, voice, video transport solutions and managed services to businesses across the New York metropolitan area. Optimum Lightpath's Network is a highly reliable, resilient, and scalable fiber-to-the-business-premises network extending more than 4,400 route miles connecting more than 4,500 fiber-lit locations. Exclusively focused on meeting customer needs in the world's largest business market for 20 years, Optimum Lightpath has been continually recognized for its high level of customer service. For 13 straight years, the New York State Public Service Commission has given Optimum Lightpath its Commendation of Excellence. Optimum Lightpath has received many industry awards for innovation and leadership. For more information, visit www.optimumlightpath.com.

SOURCE Optimum Lightpath