Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

January 25, 2007 issue

Carolina West Wireless Receives Education Partnership Award

Carolina West Wireless representatives Christy Norman, Karen Poteat and Tonya Goss accepted an Education Partnership Award for Carolina West Wireless at the Watauga County Board of Education meeting January 8. Carolina West Wireless provides free mobile phones and phone service for the district’s school buses. Photo courtesy of Watauga County Schools

The Watauga County Board of Education has presented Carolina West Wireless with an Education Partnership Award to recognize the company for providing free phones and phone service for the school buses of the Watauga County Schools. Company representatives Christy Norman, Karen Poteat and Tonya Goss accepted the award for Carolina West Wireless at the Board of Education meeting January 8.

“The free phone service provided by Carolina West Wireless is essential to provide our buses with the communication system needed to help ensure the safety of our students and drivers,” said Watauga County Schools Transportation Director Toni Weaver. “Our budget does not cover this equipment and service, so we are extremely grateful to Carolina West Wireless for their generous support.”

Carolina West Wireless Chief Executive Officer Slayton Stewart said “We are proud to be able to offer the upgraded 911 compliant phones and free wireless service for use on area school buses. As technology improves, it is part of our commitment to the communities we serve to provide them with the safest equipment available.”

The annual value of the free services provided by Carolina West Wireless for the Watauga County Schools is approximately $25,000. Carolina West has been providing free mobile phones and phone service for school buses since 1995, and recently replaced older model phones with new equipment.

In addition to providing free phones and phone service for school buses, Carolina West Wireless also offers a rebate program in which their customers can have 3 percent of their Carolina West bill donated to the school of their choice. The rebate program is providing a total of nearly $3,800 a year for the Watauga County Schools. Carolina West Wireless customers with children enrolled in the Watauga County Schools should contact their school office if they wish to enroll in this program.