Grants Totaling Nearly $3 million to Aid Schools
The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation has learned that it will be the recipient of nearly $3 million over four years through two 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants to support and sustain expanded after school and summer programs at eight schools. The schools that are recipients of these grants are Caze, Fairlawn, Dexter, McGary, Delaware, Howard Roosa, Evans and Glenwood.
These schools will receive a total of $800,000 for the first two years, $640,000 for the third year and $560,000 for year four, totaling $2,800,000 over four years. Cathlin Gray, associate superintendent for Family, School, and Community Partnerships said the EVSC has been a recipient of seven 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants totaling more than $12 million since 2000. “Our schools have worked hard to establish after school and summer programs, in partnership with many community youth serving organizations, which have been recognized as exemplary at both the state and national levels.”
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant is a national program authorized by the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. The program is administered in the State of Indiana by the Indiana Department of Education. The program helps schools, in partnership with community organizations, establish learning centers for students and their families. This program gives students and families an opportunity to learn new skills and discover new abilities beyond the school day during after school and summer hours.
The School Community Council, a collaboration of more than 70 community organizations working to establish school sites as places of community to enhance youth and family development, supports after school and summer programs in the EVSC. Some of those programs include: City of Evansville Parks and Recreation Department, YMCA, YWCA, Carver Community Organization, St. Mary’s Mobile Outreach, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, 4-H, Tales and Scales, Ivy Tech, USI, University of Evansville, Youth Resources and Youth First.
Harwood Principal Selected to Participate in Leadership Program
Michael Raisor, principal at Harwood Middle School, has been selected by the Indiana Department of Education to attend the School Turnaround Leadership Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Raisor is one of two principals in the state of Indiana invited to participate.
The week-long program is an intensive leadership program aimed at using the best strategies in business leadership to facilitate positive change within our schools. Approximately 22 education leaders from across the United States will take part in the program.
In addition to this selection, Raisor was chosen this past summer to attend the National Institute for Urban School Leaders at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he was named a Principals’ Center Scholar. Raisor, a 2007 Indiana Assistant Principal of the Year, will complete his Educational Specialist Degree in December at Indiana State University.
For more information regarding the School Turnaround Leadership Program, visit www.dardencurry.org.
City, EVSC Introduces New College Access Network
Students and families in Southwest Indiana have a new advocate in their corner with the opening of the Southwest Indiana College Access Network (SICAN). On November 3, the City of Evansville and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation announced the opening of SICAN which will soon be located in EVSC’s Center for Family, School, and Community Partnerships at 123 Main Street. SICAN is designed to work with students and families in college and post-secondary selection, as well as maneuvering through the application process for college entrance and financial aid.
Until the building opens, SICAN will operate out of EVSC’s Administration Building, going out in the schools and meeting with individuals. SICAN will act as a liaison between the schools, students, families and community resources to ensure student needs are being met; provide support and success strategies to students and families, and organize and conduct meetings with various community members and key partners regarding support for post-secondary success for students.
Visit SICAN at www.yessican.com.
EVSC Announces October Employee Excellence Award
Carol Schmidt, secretary for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s School of Academic and Career Development (SACD), has been named as the recipient of the October 2008 Employee Excellence Award. The award was presented during the Nov. 10 EVSC School Board meeting.
Nominated by Bonnie Alcorn, SACD English teacher, Schmidt was recognized for all of the many things she does to help the students at SACD succeed. “In addition to her thousands of jobs, she keeps food for students who come in hungry, functions as school nurse, attendance officer, social worker and counselor for distressed teens, graciously diffuses difficult situations, manages gifts, flowers and cards for staff and students and in general, she keeps everyone perky and positive,” Alcorn said about Schmidt.
During the meeting Alcorn told of a specific incident she witnessed between Schmidt and a student who was not feeling well. She said when Schmidt as the student what was wrong, he said he had a headache because he hadn’t eaten that day. She said Schmidt disappeared momentarily under her desk, and then reappeared with food and handed it across the counter. “He ate, his headache went away, and he had a good day,” Alcorn said. “We all have bad days from time to time, but at SACD, we can’t afford a bad day, or a bad second and thanks to Carol, we don’t.”
SACD is a school housed at the Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center for at-risk students. Last May 82 students graduated after haven taken classes at SACD.