MPS Foundation continues #ConnectMilwaukee campaign, working to raise funds for tech support

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation is launching phase two of its #ConnectMilwaukee campaign.

The goal is to help get technical support to families and students learning from home.

Over the summer, for the first phase of the campaign, the MPS Foundation raised $1 million to get Chromebooks and internet hotspots to families in need. As of September 29, nearly 8,000 hotspots have been given to families to help students learn from home.

Now, the foundation says the challenge is providing tech support to the more than 75,000 students in the district. In Phase Two, the foundation hopes to raise an additional $1 million to get more IT staff, help desk support and training for teachers.

"At this point the need is really to say, can we make you comfortable with what you’re using and then can we get you empowered," MPS Foundation Executive Director Wendell Willis said. "It’s much different accessing it when it’s ready to go in the classroom, when you’ve got an instructor with you, working through and the teacher is very versed on that platform."

The goal is to raise $1 million by the end of November. More information and donations can be made on the MPS Foundation website.