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Cusco Electric asks district to back "Connected Seniors" pairing program that trains local students to mentor seniors on technology
Summary
Keith Buchalter of Cusco Electric told the Brookings‑Harbor board about the Connected Seniors program that pairs high‑school students 1:1 with older residents to teach basic digital skills, is free to participants, and has raised local funds; he asked the district to support student participation and volunteer credit.
Keith Buchalter, marketing and member services at Cusco Electric, told the Brookings‑Harbor School District board about the Connected Seniors program and asked for the district’s support to recruit student mentors.
"We actually pair senior citizens with high school students and create an intergenerational environment where the student becomes the mentor and help them learn technology," Buchalter said. He described a program structure that emphasizes one‑on‑one pairing, limits class size so each senior receives individual attention, and provides the classes at no charge to participants.
Buchalter said the program has run multiple sessions across the service area and will mark its 50th graduate on May 29. Funding has come from donations and partners including Beacon Broadband, GoBank and Kabbage; the program raised about $11,000 at a recent fundraiser, he said. Buchalter said Southwestern Oregon Community College helps with registration and instructor vetting.
The presentation stressed practical benefits for older residents: digital literacy to access telehealth and online banking and to reduce social isolation. Buchalter also described benefits for students, including volunteer experience, career‑readiness letters for scholarships and possible course credit: "we provide them with a letter that they participate in the program, which always looks very good in scholarship applications," he said.
Board members asked about eligibility and recruitment. Buchalter said the program looks for motivated high‑school students who know basic computer use — freshmen through juniors — and that a school champion (a counselor or teacher) is critical to recruit participants.
Buchalter said he was not asking the board for money but for the district’s encouragement and facilitation so students can be released or credited for volunteer hours. He directed interested residents and school staff to contact Cusco Electric or Southwestern Oregon Community College for registration information; he said the program will formalize dates in June for fall offerings.
The presentation concluded with thanks from board members and an invitation for staff to contact Buchalter if they have questions about scheduling or student participation.
