Public schools find Pathway to educational cable programming

To coordinate programming on the Tacoma Public Schools' cable information system, the Pathways Group Inc., (Nasdaq:

Pathways' multimedia division supplies software and hardware solutions to clients wanting to communicate over public or internal cable, interactive kiosks, intranets, point-of-sale information systems and call centers.

Monte Strohl, vice president of marketing for Pathways, said the cPortal system has proved itself as a "powerful communications tool" throughout the state of Washington in many different applications. With the cPortal system, the city's public schools can broadcast curriculum-related programs, produce messages for teachers and students and air videos made by students.

Under the contract, Pathways will deliver the system for instillation by Sept. 1. It is comprised of four video decks, an authoring unit, a playback unit and an RF modulator. The modulator will help the school district send information to the city of Tacoma to broadcast locally on the city's TV channel.