Rome Catholic and Bishop Grimes High School made history in September with their first distance learning class via video-conferencing. RCS high school science teacher Sarah Gates instructed AP Biology to six RCS students in class while 20 Bishop Grimes students attended the class in Syracuse.

Gates said, "The technology worked very well, it was as if all the students were in the classroom together. The students at Bishop Grimes were able to see the white board and power point presentation. This is the future of education at RCS and we intend to add more courses using this technology each year."

Video-conferencing technology is made possible by the use of two Tandberg Video Conferencing Units. Rome Catholic School already having a unit co-authored a grant with Bishop Grimes to purchase a sister unit for the Syracuse school. The grant from the Heritage Campaign is awarded to Catholic Schools in the Diocese for programs offering academic enrichment. Rome Catholic Principal Barbara Jacques said she was "very pleased" with the milestone. "RCS has begun a new era in the Syracuse Diocese opening the door to expanding curriculums though shared personnel, which enriches the academic experience for our students. The goal is the offer this technology diocesewide." The schools are piloting two distance-learning courses this year, AP Biology and French IV.