School officials said the Walker County school system will continue to receive federal money for maintaining and improving technology available to students and teachers in schools.

“We would not be where we are today if not for the E-Rate program,” Science and Technology Director Wayne Robinson said during the Walker Board of Education’s Tuesday night planning session.

The E-Rate program provides discounts and rebates for telephone and communications services, Robinson said. The schools now own 2,807 computers with high-speed Internet service filtered for content, and the service only costs 62 cents per computer per month thanks to the program, he said.

The school system has received the grant for the past six years and has used the funds to build a state-of-the-art local area and wide area network, Robinson said.

Projections indicate the school system will receive nearly $168,000 in discounts and reimbursements this school year.

Robinson said the school system has received the money for the past six years and expects to continue receiving the federal grant money in the years to come.

In other business Tuesday:

- Walker Chief Magistrate Judge Jerry Day on Tuesday swore in new board members Alan Painter for Post 3 and Joe Moore for Post 2, as well as reelected Post 4 member Patty Hart.

- The board selected Hart as board chairman and Post 1 member Sandra McKinley as vice-chairman.

- The board plans to discuss an apprenticeship and partnership program and food service bids to serve the remainder of the school year during its regular board meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. in the central office at 201 S. Duke St., LaFayette